Adverts for Lord's Test to appear on Bangla TV

Date released: 13 May 2005

MCC has commissioned a television advertisement to promote tickets for the England v Bangladesh npower Test match at Lord’s, which will begin on Thursday 26th May.

The 30 second advert - produced, in Bengali, by Bangla TV - will appear on the Bangladeshi satellite channel four times a day from Thursday 19th to Wednesday 25th May, inclusive.

Bangla TV has an audience of over 200,000 people in the United Kingdom; it is also available throughout Canada and the United States.

MCC’s Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Iain Wilton, said:

“This will be Bangladesh's first Test match in Britain. It is also the first time that MCC has commissioned a television advert to promote a fixture at Lord's. This initiative shows our determination to attract as many people as possible to 'the home of cricket' for this historic Test."

MCC's measures to promote the match - particularly to members of the Bangladeshi community in Britain - began last September, when it staged a special reception for the Bangladesh team at Lord's.

Its initiatives have since included: a leaflet and poster campaign in parts of London with large Bangladeshi communities; a pioneering ticket-selling partnership with the Sonali Bank (UK) Limited; and an MCC ticket advertisement in the programme for this Sunday's Mela festival - celebrating the Bengali new year - in Brick Lane. (The ECB roadshow will be there.)

Ticket sales for England v Bangladesh at Lord's have been very encouraging. The second day of this npower Test has proved particularly popular; with two weeks of ticket sales still to go, over 17,600 spectators - a figure which excludes MCC Members - are already due to attend.

Tickets - priced at £20 or £30 for adults and £5 for children - can be purchased from MCC either on-line (www.lords.org) or by 'phone (020 7432 1000).