MAME enters into five year strategic partnership with SIM to organize T20 Canada

SIM is the first company in Pakistan and the fourth in the World, to have organized International Cricket with its announcement of the T20 Canada 2008. Both the Companies have entered into a long term arrangement which involves organising international cricket tournaments. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada and Zimbabwe will participate in this tournament. The first T20 Canada tournament is scheduled in October, 2008.

MAME is part of Percept Limited, one of the leading entertainment, media & communications conglomerate from India. Percept has been involved with Indian & International cricket for over 20 years & was part of the integral team behind the first international cricket tournament 'Sahara Cup' cricket series in Canada in the year 1997 - 98.

MAME CEO Mr. Bipin Pathak pointed out that although Canada is not a Test-playing nation it has been participating in limited overs cricket and first class games against non-Test playing nations, including the World Cup, ICC International Cup and Americas Cup.

"Canada's national team is largely made up of expatriates from cricket-playing countries and the idea of the joint venture is to popularise the game across the North American continent," he said, adding, "The first T20 tournament being organised in the country has evoked tremendous response and we are confident that the excitement that this form of the game generates will catch the imagination and interest of youngsters."

Cricket has always had a lower profile than other games in this sports-conscious nation. However, the 2003 World Cup was a shot in the arm for the game after Canadian John Davison clubbed half a dozen sixes in a brilliant 111 against the West Indies, which is the fastest recorded century in the history of the tournament.

Expressing his delight at signing the Strategic Partnership which will be converted into a JV, SIM Chairman Mr. Numan Nabi Ahmed said, "MAME has a distinguished track record with cricketing events and we are delighted to enter into this partnership with MAME. The T20 Canada Cup has already received the stamp of approval from the ICC and we intend to make it an annual event to build up the momentum to take cricket to every region of North America."

He further said that "Our initiative of taking Cricket back to the Americas has received tremendous response from all quarters and the Pakistan Cricket Board extended full support in making our efforts a success. It was indeed a very good experience dealing with the other Boards who readily accepted to send their teams and have been very co-operative. The feeling that we are contributing towards building the future of Cricket in one of the biggest South Asian population base in the World, Canada, is a great morale booster and we all at SIM are proud to be the leaders in this."

MAME has extensive experience in handling cricket properties, having been closely associated with cricketing events for over 20 years. Most recently, it secured the advertising sales representation rights for the 2008 ICC Champions Trophy, popularly known as the mini World Cup, as well as the earlier 2008 IPL T20 Tournament in India.

SIM is a sports events management organisation that operates worldwide and has opened the doors for international cricket in North America. It has been motivating and encouraging the large population of cricket lovers in the region with its slogan: 'Cricket has found a new home - North America'.