Indian cricket's governing body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has signed a three month extension to its marquee sponsorship deal with Sahara.

Sahara's four year deal as shirt sponsor of the Indian cricket team was due to come to a close on 31st December, but, following a lack of bidders for the rights, the Indian conglomerate will continue to sponsor the team until 31st March.

Sahara's original deal with the BCCI saw it pay some US$21.5 million a year, but the BCCI had been holding out for a vast increase on that for the next deal. By the time the 24th November deadline for bids had passed, not only had no company offered the reputed US$35 million a year that the BCCI was asking for, but, according to local media reports, none of the official bid documents, costing some US$10,000 themselves, had been purchased.

The BCCI maintains that an extension has been offered as a new jersey with a different sponsor's logo would not be able to be manufactured by 1st January as would be needed.