Japan's team sponsor extends deal

Principal sponsor, Imperial Woodpecker, has extended its deal to support the Japanese men's national team till 31 December 2011.

With a busy calendar earmarked for 2011, it was the best possible news for the Japanese team.

During the course of 2011, Japan's national team is scheduled to feature in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 in Botswana to be held in May 2011. Japan finished fourth in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 in 2009. The team is now aiming to gain promotion to Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 6, also to be played in 2011.

Japan will also feature in the ICC EAP Trophy Division 1 in Papua New Guinea, to take place later in 2011. The tournament will serve as the regional qualification tournament to the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

Commenting on the arrangement, Naoki Alex Miyaji, CEO of the Japan Cricket Association, said: "The Imperial Woodpecker sponsorship has played an essential role in maintaining and developing the men's national team programmes. During the past year, we have been able to extend the programmes run by the national team, and as a result, we have been able to identify and nurture amazing talent. We are delighted to have been able to extend the sponsorship and are confident that we will see inspiring performances by the national team as a result."