MUMBAI: With Airtel having pulled the plug on the Champions Twenty20 League as the title sponsor, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has managed to get Nokia as a replacement.

The event‘s CEO Sundar Raman confirmed the news on Twitter. The rate will be much lower than what Airtel had been forking out, it is reliably learnt.

When contacted, ESS declined to comment.

Earlier, Indiantelevision.com had reported that it was also in talks with three advertisers including Nokia. The handset manufacturer is a sponsor of Shah Rukh Khan‘s IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Airtel‘s five-year deal was worth Rs 1.70 billion.

The Champions T20 League takes place this year from 23 September- 9 October. Before this event, there will be a qualifying tournament featuring among other teams the Kolkata Knight Riders. If the Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise gets through, then there will be four Indian Premier League (IPL) teams in the event.