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India will play on with tobacco logo, says NZC

India's cricket team will be allowed to continue playing with a tobacco company name on their uniform, New Zealand Cricket said today.

Associate Health Minister Tariki John Delamere said yesterday he believed the Wills logo was a breach of the country's laws banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

He expected the logo to be removed before the limited overs match between India and New Zealand tomorrow. "My job is to ensure the law is complied with,'' Delamere said.

However NZC said it has accepted the Indian cricket board's explanation that the logo is not that of the Wills Tobacco Company.

It's a different logo from that carried by the tobacco company. The logo is from Wills Sport of India, which supplies bats, gear and sports equipment,'' NZ Cricket spokesperson Michelle Lewis said today.

W"e have told that to the ministry and also noted that other countries with similar legislation have accepted the Indian cricket board's position on the Wills logo. We expect they will play with the logo on their sleeves tomorrow."

NZC was not aware the logo had been covered up by Pakistan during its tour of Australia two years ago. Australia has similar tobacco advertising and sponsorship controls.

Delamere said NZC could also be breaching the law by failing to take action to have the logo covered up.

While he was waiting for details of his ministry's investigation of the issue, Delamere dismissed claims the logo was for a subsidiary sports goods supply company.