The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced a three-year sponsorship deal with NAGICO Insurances as the new title sponsor for the Regional Super50 One-Day cricket tournament today, December 20, 2013. Photo: supplied

Managing Director of NAGICO Insurances BVI, Mr Shan Mohammed, in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, expressed that the company's sponsorship was a way of supporting a sport that is considered a true Caribbean sport. Photo: VINO/File

"We are very excited to partner with WICB in the NAGICO Super50 format and thus support West Indies cricket as we have been doing for many years on a smaller scale," said NAGICO Group CEO, Imran McSood Amjad (right). Photo: supplied

The 2014 event will feature eight teams and will be televised live throughout the Caribbean on ESPN. Matches will be played from January 30 to February 16, 2014 in Trinidad and Tobago and there will be day/night fixtures.

Managing Director of NAGICO Insurances BVI, Mr Shan Mohammed, in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, expressed that the company's sponsorship was a way of supporting a sport that is considered a true Caribbean sport. 

The event is the WICB's marquee limited-overs event and will be known as the NAGICO Super50. The winning team will take home the Clive Lloyd Trophy - named in honour of the legendary former West Indies captain.

Mr Mohamed related that the total cost of the sponsorship has not been disclosed for the three-year agreement but noted that NAGICO is wholeheartedly committed to the sport in the Caribbean and has been sponsoring cricket at the regional level for a number of years.

Michael Muirhead, CEO of the WICB, reportedly expressed great delight with the new partnership. "The WICB is pleased to welcome NAGICO on board as a partner in West Indies cricket. Sponsorship is a vital part of any sport and we applaud NAGICO for their commitment to the game of cricket," Muirhead said in a release issued earlier today.

"We look forward to a long and fruitful association which will enhance the game in the Caribbean. This new commitment by NAGICO, we believe, will be a great benefit to West Indies cricket and the development of the game in the region," Muirhead stated.

"We are very excited to partner with WICB in the NAGICO Super50 format and thus support West Indies cricket as we have been doing for many years on a smaller scale," said NAGICO Group CEO, Imran McSood Amjad.

"Personally, I eat, drink and sleep cricket so to reach a sponsorship deal is even more satisfying. I look forward to an amazing tournament and will definitely be in Trinidad to hand out the Clive Lloyd Trophy to the winning team".

"Our CEO is a cricket fanatic," Mr Mohamed stated, "so it's no surprise that NAGICO would continue to be involved in cricket at an even higher level as the company continues to grow and expand."

Muirhead added: "NAGICO is a strong and respected brand and they have demonstrated their passion and love of the game by sponsoring this important event in the WICB calendar. The 2014 NAGICO Super50 will be crucial for the players as we look ahead to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup - a tournament we believe our team can win."

"Partnering with WICB was the next most logical step for us to take," explains Paul Dijkhoffz, NAGICO's Executive Marketing Manager.

"As one of the fastest growing and the largest privately held insurance company in the Caribbean serving 19 territories regionally, NAGICO was looking for a suitable partner who could provide us with a platform to elevate our brand presence and market our first-rate products to a vast cricket loving audience throughout the Caribbean".

The tournament's host venue was allocated following a commitment from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of Tourism, to play a major role in the execution of the tournament during the three-year period - 2014 to 2016.

The full list of schedule and fixtures for the NAGICO Super 50 is expected to be announced at a later date.