Corporate cricket waits for july 18

Cricketers are curious about the inaugural 50-over BCCI Corporate Trophy cricket tournament from September 1 to 8. On July 18, the BCCI meets in Mumbai with representatives of various corporate bodies and announces the draw, fixtures and venues.

Cricketers are curious about the inaugural 50-over BCCI Corporate Trophy cricket tournament from September 1 to 8. Are contracted players allowed to play? Which teams will be invited? These questions keep cropping up and there are no answers yet. Some corporates have taken the precaution of telling their players to make themselves available for the relevant time frame.

HT Image

On July 18, when the BCCI meets in Mumbai with representatives of various corporate bodies and announces the draw, fixtures and venues there will be more clarity for all.

Fourteen teams have been shortlisted 12 of these will be split into four groups of three each. The Corporates invited include Air India, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, ONGC, India Cements, MRF, Reliance, BSNL and Central Excise & Customs. Parthiv Patel, the Gujarat and Chennai Super Kings left-handed batsman, told HT that he has been told by employers Reliance to be available for the tournament.

"The final 12 teams would be known on July 18," said a BCCI official.

Meanwhile, Chennai looks in doubt for hosting the Corporate Trophy, it was reliably learnt. The Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Brijesh Patel confirmed that they would be hosting some of the matches. "The BCCI wanted the matches under lights and we have agreed to have the matches. Maybe Bangalore could get three or four matches," said Patel. Chennai, Bangalore, Mohali and Delhi were earlier shortlisted as venues.