Emirates now sponsor Cricket Australia

The sponsorship was announced in Brisbane by Boutris Boutres (Emirates Senior Vice-President, Media Relations, Sponsorship and Events) and James Sutherland (Cricket Australia's CEO).

It's a major addition to the Dubai based airlines high profile sporting sponsorships around the world.

In Australia, Emirates already sponsors Collingwood FC (the country's most widely supported Rules football team), Emirates Western Force (The Super 14 rugby team), the symphony orchestras in Sydney, Melbourne and Western Australia and various horse racing events including the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Sutherland said that the new partnership with Emirates was "fantastic news" for Australian cricket as Emirates is considered as one of the world's premier airlines.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting too was equally thrilled at the prospect of travelling with Emirates from next year and looking forward to it. The first major trip the Australians will take aboard Emirates will be when they head to New Zealand in early 2007 for the Chappell-Hadlee Series.

Emirates has an existing association with cricket through its sponsorship of the ICC's Elite Panel of Umpires and Match Referees.