ZIMBABWE Cricket has signed a kit deal with Reebok, officials have said.
Reebok replaces local manufacturer, Faith, as kit sponsor.
ZC managing director Ozias Bvute confirmed the deal which will see the German sportswear giant — a subsidiary of Adidas — supply kit to all national teams and franchises.
Bvute said the unquantified sponsorship deal, worth an estimated US$1 million a year according to one source, was a major boost to Zimbabwe Cricket’s rehabilitation after six years of turmoil which saw a walk-out by some senior players.
"I take great pleasure, in welcoming to the stable, as the national kit sponsor — international clothing brand Reebok," Bvute said. This is part of the process of renewal in our cricket.
Bvute said the senior national team would start using the new kit before the end of November.
CBZ Bank Limited have already signed up as sponsors of the men’s One Day International squad, with Coca Cola becoming the main sponsor of the Twenty20 team.
Stanbic Bank, Bvute said, are sponsoring the domestic Twenty20 competition.
"We are driven and unified to be proudly Zimbabwean in our pursuit to build and restore our cricket structures and ultimately form a national team that we can all be proud of," Bvute said.
Zimbabwe has targeted 2011 for a return to Test Cricket after a six-year absence caused by a walk-out by stars such as Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak and Henry Olonga following differences with ZC.
The ZC has since healed that rift with the former players, some of whom are back assisting a rapidly improving Zimbabwe side — NewZimbabwe.Com.