U-Pro Global launches prize draw to fully sponsor one player for the 2025 World Cup

With under two months to go until the tournament commences, Dubai-based based U-Pro Global, the multi-arena indoor sports organisation with centres in South Africa and host nation Sri Lanka, is launching a prize draw to provide one player a fully sponsored trip to the 2025 World Cup in Colombo this September.

The sponsorship would cover all expenses to attend the tournament, including flights and accommodation, based on the required cost stipulated for the player, as promulgated by their National Board.

A registration form to enter the prize draw will be available on the main page of Indoor Cricket News from today, with entries closing on 15 August.

A live draw will then be held via Google Meet on 17 August where the winner will be announced. The winner will be selected at random using accredited Online Draw Software.

Whilst the World Cup is the pinnacle event for indoor cricket, players must fund themselves to compete, with costs varying across nations but expected to be in the order of thousands of dollars (local currencies) in order to be able to attend the event. Of the two leading indoor cricket nations Australia’s cricketers will be required to pay between $5,000-6,000 AUD, whilst New Zealand’s players will need to make up $6,000-7,000 NZD themselves for the trip.

With many playing weekly in domestic competitions, and participating in state, national and provincial championships to be considered for selection by their countries, the financial toll is a significant one for leading indoor cricketers, not to mention the time and effort required.

U-Pro Global Founder and Managing Director Manish Kishore has put forward this sponsorship initiative in order to try and put processes in place to start bridging that gap.

“I have seen so many players who have to fundraise in their respective countries to make the World Cup, so we wanted to make our contribution by way of fully sponsoring one player, covering all of their costs in getting to and competing at the tournament. At U-Pro, we are working to help the game grow and to make the game professional. It is a personal vision of mine, and initiatives such as this are taking steps in that direction” Kishore said.

Indoor Cricket News understand the structure of the sponsorship and prize draw by U-Pro is as follows:

• The prize draw is only open to players who have been or will be named in an Open Men, Open Women, Under-22 Men or Under-22 Women’s squad for their country at the World Cup. This will be verified with the winning player’s National Board.

• Sri Lanka and UAE national players are ineligible to enter.

• Entries must be made by completing the registration form available on the main page of Indoor Cricket News.

• For the winner, following verification of their selection, U-Pro will communicate the outcome of the prize draw to the player’s National Board, and confirm the total individual cost for the player required for the tournament. This amount will then be transferred to the relevant Board, who will then disperse this amount to the player.

• Any previous advances or deposits made for costs associated with the tournament will need be managed internally between the player and their Board. If the player has already raised funds previously, the full amount will be paid by U-Pro, with any funds raised to date by the player to be dispersed to the rest of the player’s national squad, at the discretion of the relevant National Board.

Full terms and conditions are available on the registration form.

The prize draw is not affiliated with the World Indoor Cricket Federation, any National Indoor Cricket Board or Organisation, or Indoor Cricket News, and is a privately-run venture by U-Pro.

Image: Shewon Fonseka