The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has received a substantial boost in its mission to develop cricket in the state by announcing Punit Balan Group (PBG) and Manikchand Oxyrich as its main partners on Monday.
PBG is dedicated to nurturing promising sports talents across India and fostering a culture of excellence and growth. They support nearly 60 talented athletes across various sports. PBG and Manikchand Oxyrich will now collaborate with MCA to elevate cricket in the state, particularly in remote areas.
"The partnership with PBG and Manikchand Oxyrich is valued at ₹5 crore per season for the next five seasons. This collaboration will enable MCA to enhance facilities, including infrastructure development, welfare schemes, and grassroots development in remote regions of the state. It focuses on talent identification and the grooming of young players," stated MCA President Rohit Pawar at a press conference.
"PBG and Manikchand Oxyrich are esteemed business groups in Pune with a proven track record in sports. They have supported athletes from various disciplines and have helped them achieve their dreams. That was a primary reason we decided to collaborate with them for the betterment of Maharashtra cricket," he added.
The partnership aims to nurture future cricket stars for both the state and the country by providing enhanced facilities.
Punit Balan, Chairman & Managing Director of PBG, commented on the collaboration, saying, "Through our sports division, we aim to support athletes from various disciplines, and we are delighted to support Maharashtra cricket. We independently support 60 athletes through our sports division and aspire to see them represent India at the highest level. We are committed to supporting them in this process, and we see the same potential in Maharashtra cricket under the current leadership of Rohit Pawar."
As part of the agreement, the PBG logo will appear on the front of the jerseys for Maharashtra's men's and women's teams across all age groups and senior teams, including the Ranji Trophy. The Manikchand Oxyrich logo will be featured on the shirt sleeves.
MCA secretary Shubhendra Bhandarkar, MCA apex council members - Vinayak Dravid, Suhas Patwardhan, Raju Kane, Ranjit Khirid, Kamlesh Pisal, Sushil Shewale, Sunil Mutha, Ashok Vaze, Kalpana Tapkir, and COO Ajinkya Joshi were also present at the press conference.
