NAGPUR: The incessant rains have spoiled Vidarbha Cricket Association's (VCA) plan of holding the prestigious Bapuna Cup ahead of the BCCI season.
With no action on the first two days of the tournament, it is learnt that VCA has decided to cancel the tournament. They have intimated the visiting teams - Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - accordingly.
"We were told the tournament will not be possible as there are no signs of improvement in weather. So, we decided to pack our bags," said officials of both teams. The visiting teams have made their travel plans for Wednesday morning. Chhattisgarh is expected to leave by train, while MP will fly back home.
On the other hand, even as the visiting teams have already made travel plans, the VCA informed the press through an email that "a decision regarding calling-off of the tournament will be taken tomorrow (Wednesday)."
The inaugural day of Bapuna Cup was washed out and the story continued for the second day on Tuesday, which led to an abrupt end to VCA's curtain raiser for the season. This is the first time the prestigious Bapuna Cup is coming to such an end.
The Bapuna Cup, which used to be a multi-day affair a few years ago became a one-day tournament a couple of years ago, and this year, it was planned in T20 format as BCCI's season for senior men is slated to start with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament from October 27.
"We are in a fix. For a young team like VCA, we need to play more matches. Our plan to travel to Pondicherry also did not materialize. The other plan to play with MP and Chhattisgarh is spoiled by the weather. As and when weather stabilizes, we will hold the tournament and we may or may not call it Bapuna Cup," a source in VCA said.
