The Bayern Munich team flew to Qatar on Friday for its winter training camp amid uncertainty over the club’s contentious sponsorship agreement with the Persian Gulf country. State-owned Qatar Airways’ lucrative advertising deal is due to expire at the end of the season and there is pressure on the Bavarian powerhouse from its own fans not to extend it. Many Bayern supporters feel it’s damaging to the club’s reputation to take money from a country associated with human rights abuses. The issue has long been a source of contention between Bayern and its own fans, who have consistently campaigned against the sponsorship agreement. Members of the Bayern ultra-fan groups, Munich’s Red Pride and Club. No. 12, displayed banners at games condemning what they say is the “sports washing” of human rights abuses in Qatar through Bayern’s publicity for the sheikhdom. “We continue to stand by our position that we’re absolutely against an extension of the sponsorship agreement,” Alexander Salzweger from Club No. 12 told The Associated Press this week. “In contrast to previous years, it’s no longer about an early termination, which would have been more than complicated, but not extending the sponsorship.” Bayern did not respond to requests for comment. Fans previously called on Bayern to prematurely end the sponsorship deal. The club’s 2021 AGM ended in tumult and anger when members booed the club’s directors for refusing to discuss the issue. Bayern president Herbert Hainer apologized at the following AGM last November when he said he made “mistakes” in not allowing a discussion at the previous meeting. Read more: Bayern Munich vs Barcelona 2022: Match preview, lineups, predictions, where to watch Club No. 12 organized a public meeting in Munich in 2020 titled “Qatar, human rights and FC Bayern” featuring two migrant workers who spoke of their experiences constructing stadiums for the World Cup. Bayern was invited to send a representative but did not respond to organizers. The team plays with Qatar Airways on the sleeves of the players’ jerseys. The club receives 10 million euros ($10.5 million) a year from its five-year deal with the Qatari carrier. That arrangement was signed in 2018, replacing Bayern’s previous sponsorship deal with Doha Airport. The club has been holding mid-season training camps in the Persian Gulf country since 2011, though plans to train there in 2022 and 2021 were scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said in November that the club was deferring its decision on whether to extend its deal with Qatar Airways. “We will continue to discuss the issue intensively after the World Cup and find a solution for FC Bayern,” Kahn told members at the AGM. Read more: Barcelona set to sign striker Lewandowski from Bayern Munich There has been no news on the issue from the club since.

Bangladeshi tech-giant Walton has become the title sponsor of the upcoming Test series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The official name of the event will be ‘Walton Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Series’. According to the schedule, Sri Lanka will host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series this time. Bangladesh will reach Sri Lanka on April 12. The first Test is scheduled to be played from April 21 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium near Kandy while the second game is set to start on April 29. Also read: West Indies Test series a litmus test for Bangladesh cricket? A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Walton and ITW sports management, the owner of the series recently. Executive Director of Walton Group Uday Hakim and head of ITW Consulting Bangladesh Private Limited Mohammad Sharik signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at Walton’s media office in Dhaka. Also read: Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series in jeopardy Walton’s Executive Director Firoj Alam and Senior Additional Director Rabiul Islam Milton were present at the ceremony. Hakim says, “The whole world is passing through a tough time due to the coronavirus epidemic. But the good thing is that cricket has started to return to the field overcoming the fear of the virus.” Read Daraz becomes sponsor of the national cricket team The national cricket team have already returned home from New Zealand. They are now set to tour Sri Lanka to play the two-match Test series.  Hakim said Walton is proud to be associated with this event. It is expected that millions of cricket fans, players and all those associated with cricket will be inspired by this event. “Walton is with cricket and will always be,” he added.  Read Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka 2021: Five Things Bangladesh Cricket Team Must Do To win the Test Series in Sri Lanka

The country’s leading e-commerce platform Daraz has become the new sponsor of the Bangladesh National Men's, Women's, A Team and Under-19 Cricket Team till November 30, 2023. Daraz has been awarded the rights under which its logo will appear on the kits of the Bangladesh National Men’s and Women’s, Bangladesh A Team and the Bangladesh Under 19 Team.  Meanwhile, Hungrynaki, a sister concern of Daraz, will be the Team Kits Partner. The sponsorship is effective from April 7, 2021, and will run up to  November 30, 2023. Read: Tigers return home after disastrous New Zealand tour BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury welcomed Daraz to Bangladesh cricket.  "Within a very short period, Daraz has become one of the leading e-commerce sites in Bangladesh and arguably the most popular. The way Daraz has provided customer service at the doorsteps of millions of people, especially during the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been admirable," he said. The BCB is delighted to form a partnership with an organisation of international repute and one that has a progressive and innovative outlook, the BCB CEO said.  Read Walton becomes title sponsor of Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test series "I thank Daraz for coming forward and associating its brand with Bangladesh Cricket. I'm sure this will be a strong and durable relationship as we work towards the common goal of pursuing successes for Bangladesh cricket,”  he added. Daraz's Managing Director Syed Mostahidal Hoq said: “This's an auspicious moment for us because it always gives you immense pleasure to be able to do something for the country. By sponsoring our National Cricket Team we feel that we have become a part of the passion and glory associated with the game in Bangladesh and we look forward to celebrating many achievements in the years to come.” Read: Tamim Iqbal wants to retire from one format