Two teams withdraw from Corporate Trophy

Two teams have withdrawn from the second edition of the Corporate Trophy, causing a revision in schedule. Canara Bank and Vijay Bank pulled out which makes tournament, starting next Wednesday, a 14-team affair.

Instead of the original four groups of four teams, there will new be two sets of three sides and two of four. The table toppers in each group progress to the semi-finals in Visakhapatnam on September 5 and 6 to contest for a place in the final on September 8.

Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, told PTI that while teams had been provided with accommodation and given a daily allowance last year, this season the tournament had been brought on par with other domestic tournaments as per the decision taken by the BCCI's Working Committee.

"They [the two teams] said they were withdrawing as they cannot afford the extra expenses and that the BCCI had changed the rules," Shetty said.

Group A (based in Visakhapatnam) - All India Electricity Board, State Bank of Hyderabad, India Cements
Group B (based in Chennai) - Tata Sports Club, BPCL, Indian Oil Corporation
Group C (based in Hyderabad) - Air India, BSNL, Chemplast, State Bank of Mysore
Group D (based in Bangalore) - ONGC, Income Tax, State Bank of Patiala, MRF