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Cricket gets a credit card

Citibank launched a special VISA cricket card, Monday, to raise funds to support Indian cricket and allow fans to buy match tickets over the phone.

This is the first affinity card programme in India, wherein a credit card issuer has associated itself with a sports association.

Part of the proceeds from purchases with the card will be donated by Citibank India to a special Indian cricket fund, said Ashoke Dutt, global consumer bank head of Citibank India.

The exact percentage to be donated from each transaction is to be worked out with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The Bank's target is to raise Rs 10 million within the next two years.

"The percentages will be changed if we find the target difficult to reach,'' said Dutt at a briefing in Colombo, where the card was launched with the support of the Indian cricket team and officials of the BCCI.

Citibank India's credit card customers, now numbering one million, can now ask for the special card, valid in India and Nepal, instead of the regular Visa silver card.

Holders of the cricket card will get preference when buying tickets for international matches played in India. They will also get discounts on Indian cricket souvenirs and memorabilia, sports goods and sportswear.

Indian team manager Venkat Sundaram, representing the BCCI in the absence of the president and secretary of the board, said he welcomed the idea of the card, and hoped that Indian cricket would stand to benefit.

Agencies