International beverage giants Pepsi Cola are the newest patrons of local cricket.

For three years from now Pepsi will sponsor the national cricket championship and the national cricketers will don the logo of the world famous soft drink on their apparels. This was disclosed at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board at a local hotel yesterday.

Foreign Minister ASM Mostafizur Rahman who is the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board revealed that Pepsi in tandem with Bangladesh . Cricket Control Board will work towards building a foundation which will ensure a steady flow in the pipeline of talented cricketers.

The foundation, conceived in Une with MRF in India will provide all the implements as well

as coaches for the promising cricketers;

To start with. Pepsi, according to the BCCB president will pour in 150,000 US dollars every year during their Initial contract spanning three years.

Soleman Dawood, the finance director of Pepsi for South Asia who was one of the representatives of the sponsors, apart from Amanullah Mian, the chairman of Bangladesh Beverage, the local bottlers of the popular drink, said, "Pepsi plays a vital role in the development of cricket in Pakistan. Cricketers like Imran Khan. Wasim Akram. Basit Ali and Waqar Younis are sponsored by Pepsi. They go round different cricket clinics in Pakistan and their presence. Inspiration immensely help bloom the budding cricketers."

Quite a useful cricketer in ' his youth Foreign Minister ASM Mostafizur Rahman attached

great importance with the role of patrons in cricket. Dwelling on the rich tradition of cricketing patronage in the subcontinent. the board president expressed that the appearance of a big house like Pepsi in the role of sponsors will go a long way in shaping the future of the Bangladeshi cricket which is now on the threshold of a golden dawn.

Bangladesh are bidding strongly for a place among the top three finishers of the forthcoming ICC Trophy to be held in Kenya a month later. Three top teams of the biggest meet of the associate members of the ICC will play in the next World Championship of cricket. Bangladesh who are now in the ■ middle of hectic preparations for the crucial meet leave Dhaka for Pakistan today to play a number of friendly matches to hope themselves up for the coming crunch.