Cricket West Indies has announced that Sandals Resorts has agreed a long-term contract to become the new principal partner and team sponsor of the Windies.

The news follows the successful Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge at Lord’s, which raised money for the destination.

The new partnership is effective immediately and will cover all Windies’ teams from U-15s through to the senior men’s and women’s teams. 

As part of the agreement Sandals will have their logo inscribed on all Windies playing and training clothing, as well as benefiting from activating Windies cricket in their marketing and social responsibility programmes.

Sandals will also enjoy stadium branding at all home matches and broadcast sponsorship of all Windies matches shown on Sky Sports.

The announcement was confirmed today by Johnny Grave, chief executive of Cricket West Indies, as the Windies begin a three-test series against Sri Lanka at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

“Windies cricket is the heartbeat of the Caribbean and we’re thrilled to partner with such a prestigious international brand as Sandals which is also synonymous with promoting the best of the Caribbean to the world. 

“Sandals shares our determination to strengthen and grow cricket across the region, as well as harnessing cricket’s power to drive economic investment and tourism,” said Grave.

He added: “This announcement comes at an exciting time for Cricket West Indies, as we have just embarked on an ambitious new five-year strategic plan. 

“Sandals Resorts’ investment will not only help fuel the game at all levels within the Caribbean but will enable us to achieve our strategic objectives. 

“We are thrilled that Sandals have agreed to partner us once again and that they are re-invigorating their support of cricket within the region.”

The Windies men’s and women’s teams are the current ICC World T20 Champions.

The partnership is set to run until December 31st, 2020.

In commenting on the new arrangement chairman of Sandals, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, said: “Our relationship with West Indies cricket is not a new one, having sponsored tours to the UK in 1995, 2000 and 2004, and we have now deepened our support for the Windies with this sponsorship which will cover all upcoming tours including the World Cup until the end of 2020.

“We have absolutely loved our association with West Indies Cricket over the years, and we look forward with great enthusiasm to this latest partnership, which started with a win against the ICC World XI in the hurricane relief fundraising match at Lord’s.

“We look forward to the Windies continuing its winning ways in the series against Sri Lanka, and the others to come.”

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Breaking Travel News will join Sandals Resorts later in the year as the company hosts the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony.

The event will take place on September 22nd, at Sandals Montego Bay in Jamaica.

Stewart added: “Sandals believes in the collective power of our Caribbean people, which has been at the heart of our success as the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company for 22 consecutive years.

“Similarly, the Windies has been one of the most important institutions in fostering regional unity and pride.

“Sandals and West Indies cricket are two of the most successful indigenous brands to have come out of the Caribbean, which makes this partnership a natural fit, and we are proud to work alongside Cricket West Indies once more.”