Mumbai: IPL franchise outfit Kings XI Punjab expect to break even in 2010 after this year's Twenty20 event could not be held at home and was shifted to South Africa, one of its co-owners said on Saturday.

"We hoped to break even this year before the tournament was shifted to South Africa. By next year we will be very close to break even," industrialist Mohit Burman told a media conference at a function organised to announce team's title sponsors 'Emirates'.

Besides Emirates, with whom they have tied up multi-million dollar deal for three years, Kings XI have also tied-up with Gulf Oil, Nimbooz, Netlinkblue, Reebok, Springbok International, Royal Challenge, Dabur Glucose D and Orbit.

The number of sponsors for Kings XI this year is more than what they had got last year which was the then highest among all the eight franchise outfits, it was announced.

But getting these sponsors on board this year was a struggle because of the economic downturn, admitted Bollywood actress and co-owner Preity Zinta.

"A lot of deals we were planning got affected. We were close to signing up a few sponsors which got cancelled as the event was shifted to South Africa. However, as they say everything happens for the best and we have some top brands on our T-shirt", she said.