The telecommunications company who won the Australia television broadcast rights for the Premier League has saved the day for T20 cricket side the Melbourne Stars after its primary sponsor Dick Smith Electronics yesterday dropped its sponsorship commitments

Singapore-owned Optus was unveiled as the new major sponsor last night with its previous corporate sponsor being placed into administration on Tuesday. It continues what’s been a bumper 2015 for the telco brand which pried Australia’s much vaunted Premier League TV rights away from pay television provider Foxtel.

The deal means that Optus will become the Stars’ main sponsor for the remainder of this season’s Big Bash League tournament and remain as the major partner until at least 2018. It will see the Optus branding painted on the turf of the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as well as signage around the iconic ground. The deal will also see the branding feature heavily on the Stars’ playing shirts.

Melbourne Stars Chief Executive Clint Cooper said that it wasn’t only a relief to find a company to back the team so quickly but delighted to sign such a significant Club sponsor in a very big deal in context of the league itself.

“We see this long-term partnership as one of the most significant Club sponsorship deals in BBL history and we thank Optus for actioning this opportunity to allow the organisations to begin leveraging the partnership this season.”