ouldn�t it be really boring if sports stars endorsed just health drinks? That�s why they don�t. And we�ve seen sporting greats to be sporting enough to openly appreciate the beverage of their choice (see table). The latest to join the gang is the New Zealand cricket team vice-captain, Chris Cairns, who has been appointed the brand ambassador for Zingaro, the �non-alcoholic malt beverage� from Millennium AlcoBev (MAB).

The reason for selecting Cairns, says Girish Shah, general manger, marketing, MAB, is the fit in Cairns� and Zingaro�s personality. More than a cricketer or a foreigner who can give an international look to Zingaro, it was his rugged 6-feet-3-inch frame that made him the perfect choice. "He gives the brand a certain aspirational appeal, which is larger than life for the target audience." (And considering the Indian cricket team�s fitness, MAB can�t be blamed for using the Kiwi!) ... more