Dumping SCG, Cricket Australia set to lose $20 million

Melbourne: Cricket Australia is set to lose a $20-million sponsorship deal with the Commonwealth Bank over moves to dump the Sydney Cricket Ground and play one-day internationals at ANZ Stadium.

The bank has been a major sponsor for 22 years and invests seven million dollars a season in return for naming rights to 50-over cricket and having their logo on the Australian players' shirts, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"Cricket Australia is aware we are not comfortable with Cricket NSW entering into a venue agreement with ANZ Stadium. At this stage we understand no decisions have been made and we're just focusing on supporting a great season of cricket for people to enjoy watching," a spokesman for the CBA told the Daily Telegraph.

Privately, CBA executives are furious about the prospect of playing at Sydney Olympic Park, even allowing for the fact the stadium management is prepared to drop any exposure for ANZ while the one-day games are being played.

The board of Australian Cricket is expected to announce any day the future scheduling for international cricket in Sydney.

It's been predicted the SCG will host the Ashes Test, but ANZ will win the venue rights to Sydney's one-day fixtures and Twenty20 games.

Even before the clash-of-the-big-banks problem arose, the CBA was already reviewing its commitment to 50-over cricket because of so much negativity over the game's future.

The CBA is a platinum sponsor of Cricket Australia and one of its three biggest backers, along with 3mobile and Fosters.

"We have to protect our sponsors in all our venue agreements. We have been commercial partners with the Commonwealth Bank for 22 years and it's a highly valued relationship," said CA spokesman Peter Young.