The BCCI treasurer, Arun Dhumal reckons that the board has no plans to end its association with current IPL title sponsor Vivo as the money coming in from the Chinese company is helping India’s cause and not the other way round. Anti-China sentiments are running high in the country following the border clash between the two countries at Galwan valley earlier this week.

However, Dhumal said Chinese companies sponsoring an Indian event like the IPL only serve his country’s interests. The BCCI gets ₹440 crores annually from Vivo and the five-year deal ends in 2022.

During a chat with PTI, Dhumal said, “We have to understand the difference between supporting a Chinese company for a Chinese cause or taking help from Chinese companies to support India’s cause. When we are allowing Chinese companies to sell their products in India, whatever money they are taking from Indian consumer, they are paying part of it to the BCCI (as brand promotion) and the board is paying 42 percent tax on that money to the Indian government.”

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Oppo, a mobile phone brand like Vivo, was sponsoring the Indian cricket team until September last year when Bengaluru-based educational technology Byju’s start-up replaced the Chinese company. However, Dhumal said he is all for reducing dependence on Chinese products but as long as its companies are allowed to do business in India, there is no harm in them sponsoring an Indian brand like the IPL.

The BCCI Treasurer explained, “If they are not supporting the IPL, they are likely to take that money back to China. We are supporting our government with that money (by paying taxes on it). IGCA built the world’s largest cricket stadium at Motera and that contract was given to an Indian company (L&T). “

Dhumal went on to say the BCCI is spoilt for choice when it comes to attracting sponsors, whether Indian or Chinese or from any other nation.

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The BCCI Treasurer elaborated, “If that Chinese money is coming to support Indian cricket, we should be okay with it. I am all for banning Chinese products as an individual, we are there to support our government but by getting sponsorship from Chinese company, we are helping India’s cause. We can support our players anyway but the idea is when they are allowed to sell their products here, it is better that part of the money comes back to the Indian economy.”