The Hindu : Sport : Mumbai declared winner

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Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
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Sport

Mumbai declared winner

Special Correspondent

AIS XI concedes final; runner-up prize money not released

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

SMILING MOMENT: The Mumbai team coach Pravin Amre (left) and captain Vinayak Mane receiving the Buchi Babu Trophy from TNCA president N. Srinivasan.

CHENNAI: Mumbai was declared the winner of the all-India Buchi Babu invitation cricket tournament after Australian Institute Sport (AIS) conceded the final scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The Buchi Babu Trophy and the winner’s prize money were awarded to Pravin Amre and Vinayak Mane, coach and captain respectively of Mumbai, at a function to inaugurate an indoor facility of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).

AIS coach Brian McFadyen, when contacted, said his side had pulled out because “we couldn’t change our flight (reservations)”. The side is scheduled to depart on Saturday to Singapore, from where the 18-member squad will take various connecting flights.

TNCA not informed

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) secretary K. Viswanathan expressed surprise that AIS, despite being informed of the tournament’s schedule in advance, had neither planned its itinerary accordingly nor informed the TNCA in advance.

“Only yesterday (Thursday) did they inform us that they had domestic commitments and had to be back in Australia,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that they didn’t bother informing us till now — it’s disappointing coming from such an organisation.”

It is learnt that AIS approached the TNCA to play the final over two days — Friday and Saturday — instead of the three-day format, mandated by the rules. But, with both semifinals ending on Thursday, Mumbai refused to play back-to-back matches.

Not fair

Viswanathan, who confirmed AIS had approached the TNCA with changing the final’s format, said, “We can’t change the rules mid-way through the tournament. It’s not fair on us or the other team”. He said the TNCA would deal with the matter in its executive committee meeting on September 3.

“It’s (withdrawing) unfair on any organiser,” said Viswanathan. “The association will have to decide on inviting the team in future.”

The tournament committee decided not to release the runner-up prize money to AIS.

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