Cricket: New sponsor easy as pie

Georgie Pie are understood to be frontrunner among the bids to sponsor the annual tournament, a role previously filled by home ventilation brand HRV. Photo / APN

Some cricketers bowl pies but fans might get the chance to throw down a few mince 'n' cheese at domestic Twenty20 grounds over summer if New Zealand Cricket and McDonald's Georgie Pie brand can negotiate a sponsorship deal.

Georgie Pie are understood to be frontrunner among the bids to sponsor the annual tournament, a role previously filled by home ventilation brand HRV.

The improvement in New Zealand's cricketing fortunes last season and a desire by McDonald's to be associated with the commercially viable T20 brand is behind talk of a marriage. Any deal is expected to be more lucrative than the deal with HRV given the wide business interest.

The Herald on Sunday understands other suitors have pitched to be associated, but McDonald's are favourites for what's expected to be a November/early December window on the playing calendar.

It makes sense McDonald's would be keen to replicate the opportunity seized by global fast-food industry rivals KFC, who sponsor Australia's Big Bash. That tournament is scheduled for late December and January. McDonald's can see the competition's potential reach, especially with the Indian market's voracious cricket appetite.

There's also hope the competition will have more of an international flavour - with some of the world's best players on view - before the World Cup. Unfortunately, New Zealand's best cricketers will be playing Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates if the tournament is held in November and December.

However, in what would be a windfall for NZC and the major associations, there's a possibility international players will be attracted as a means of acclimatising to New Zealand's pitches and conditions before the World Cup starts in February and could be signed at comparatively discount prices.

The congested nature of international cricket means few teams are free from playing between November and January. The current schedule suggests West Indians and Indians might be the best targets, along with fringe players.