BCCI has made a change in the fixture for the Corporate Trophy scheduled to be played from September 1-8.

By Sai Prasad Mohapatra

The Board was forced to effect a change after Vijaya Bank and Canara Bank pulled out of the 16-team event. The sides had been divided into four groups.

“Looking at the logistical difficulties in accommodating two more teams at the last moment in place of Vijaya Bank and Canara Bank, we are going ahead with 14 teams participating in it. Indian Oil now will be placed in Group B, moving in from from Group C. That means Group B and Group C will comprise of three teams each while Group A and Group D will have four teams each” said N Srinivasan, Honourary Secretary, BCCI

However, one official associated with Vijaya Bank cited mounting expenses as the reason for pulling out of the tourney. “ The Board had promised to bear all our expenses including operational costs. Now that they have backed out from their promise, we have no choice but to pull out as it is turning out to be an expensive proposition for us”.

Another official associated with Canara Bank reiterated a similar stance: “We have conveyed our concern to the Board and it is not a viable proposition for us”.

Even Tata Sports Club had raised a similar concern asking the Board to play matches in Mumbai after the revised fixture in order to curtail expenses as BCCI had withdrawn the sponsorship at the last moment.

“We are not making any exception. It applies to all the participating teams to take care of their own expenses. They in any case are two big public sector banks; we cannot bend the rules for them”, Srinivasan reasoned.

BCCI has further instructed all its contracted players to participate in the Corporate Trophy named after the Late Raj Singh Dungarpur with the exception of players representing Mumbai Indians, Chennai Superkings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have been allowed to play from September 1 to 3 before they join their respective franchises for the Airtel Champions League Twenty20.

Vijaya Bank has RCB's R Vinay Kumar on its payroll while Canara Bank has former Indian spinner Sunil Joshi and Ranji cap K B Pawan in the side.