Under pressure from institutions with international players in their ranks, and lured by the prospect of upgrading the profile of the tournament, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is thinking of advancing the inaugural edition of the Corporate Championships by one week.

The eight-day tournament is scheduled to be held from September 1, and is likely to clash with a Team India preparatory camp ahead of their departure on September 7 for a short trip to Sri Lanka. The camp is likely to start on September 2 at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, because of which the tournament will in all likelihood be slotted for the last week of August. The final dates of the tournament, to be played across four zonal centres, will be finalised after a meeting between BCCI officials and institution representatives on July 27 in Mumbai.

“We had initially slotted the corporate tournament from September 1 onwards but the dates are flexible and we might have the option of pushing it a bit early if we think it is appropriate,” Sanjay Jagdale, BCCI joint secretary told The Indian Express on Wednesday. “We will have a round of talks with the institutions, and the number of teams and dates will be thrashed out in the July 27 meeting.”

ONGC, Air india, India Cements, BPCL, Chemplast are some of the teams that will gain by the decision if BCCI advances the tournament.

According to sources, after the Gary Kirsten outburst of not connecting with the players during the World T20, the BCCI is wary of slotting any tournament during a camp and is keen to give Kirsten complete charge as the players return from the two-month break ahead of the Sri Lanka tri-series and the Champions Trophy.

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