Emirates Airline named as ICC Official Partner

Dubai, Feb 11 (UNI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has become an Official Partner for the next eight years.

This deal takes in all ICC events until 2015, including two ICC Cricket World Cups, the ICC Champions Trophy, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Women's World Cup and U/19 Cricket World Cup.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said,''We have already established an excellent relationship with Emirates through its sponsorship of the Emirates Elite and International Panels of ICC Umpires and Match Referees.

''Given that relationship, we are delighted to extend it further, with Emirates becoming an ICC Official Partner up to 2015,'' he added.''We are now based in Dubai, the ICC Global Cricket Academy is set to open this year and Dubai is a hub for teams travelling around the world. These facts make this new agreement especially appropriate.'' Pointing out the growing stature of cricket in the international arena Speed said,''The ability of the ICC to attract an Official Partner of the calibre of Emirates is evidence of the strength of the game of cricket and the quality and variety of our events going through to 2015.

''These events include two ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy tournaments and ICC World Twenty20 tournaments and the partnership will help ensure our strong sport will get even stronger in the years to come.'' UNI XC AB KN2117