NBM hikes cricket league sponsorship

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) has increased sponsorship of the NB 25 Overs Southern Region Cricket League from K2.2 million to K3.5 million.

NBM general manager Macfussy Kawawa announced the good news during the launching ceremony at the bank’s towers in Blantyre on Thursday evening.

“This shows how much interest we have in sports.

“Healthy people contribute more to the economic development of the country and, therefore, [this sponsorship] as one way of making our contribution towards the health of Malawians,” said Kawawa.

He said they are encouraged with the efforts by the Cricket Union of Malawi (CUM) to develop the game.

“But we would like the sport to reach out to the youths in all corners of Malawi,” he said.

CUM acting president Makbul Ratif hailed NBM for its continued support.

“NBM has been supporting cricket for the past five years and because of the support, we successfully hosted the World Cricket League three years ago.

“And because of that we were promoted to Division II and we had five indegenous Malawians. We now have cricket being played in schools,” said Ratif. CUM general secretary Krishna Achuthan said the game is going through restructuring in order to have a proper set-up.

“We are in the process of taking the game to schools, it is not easy, but it is a challenge we have to take,” he said.

The league is set to start on September 4.

Twelve will compete in this year’s event.