Fate of two clubs undecided as the CBL season kicks off in three days

Alappuzha: Confusion prevails over the eligibility of two clubs, as there are just three more days left for flagging off this year’s CBL season, starting with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on August 12. The fate of Punnamada Boat Club and Vembanad Boat Club which had entered into agreements with boats that do not possess the required fitness to be part of the CBL, hangs in the balance. If the clubs reach an agreement with the boats that have CBL eligibility by this evening, they could continue to be part of the championship.

Else, only seven teams would be vying for the coveted trophy this year. Meanwhile, Kaarichal and Ayaparambu Pandi would probably lose their eligibility for giving their boats to the clubs that didn’t qualify.
Punnamada Boat Club had entered into a contract with Devas chundan (snake boat) while Vembanad Boat Club joined hands with Cheruthana chundan. The clubs had agreed to use these boats to take part in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race as well as the remaining matches in the CBL. However, Kaarichal and Ayaparambu Pandi boats had agreed to compete for their registered clubs only in the Nehru Trophy.

The Village Boat Club Kainakary had registered Kaarichal as their boat for the Nehru Trophy while Ayaparambu Pandi has been registered by Lourdes Matha Boat Club. As all the boats that have CBL eligibility are already booked by other clubs, the Punnamada and the Vembanad boat clubs cannot compete in the race on those boats.

As per the laws of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the clubs cannot change their boats and vice versa after the registration and the track and heats selection are completed.

It must be noted that the clubs cannot be disqualified for the entire season if they assure that they would compete in the remaining eleven CBL matches on eligible boats. However, Punnamada Boat Club and Vembanad Boat Club cannot avail the CBL advantages, in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, as they chose ineligible boats. Similarly, Kaarichal and Ayaparambu Pandi boats too would not get these advantages. The points that they score in Nehru Trophy wouldn’t be added to their CBL account. A meeting will be held at 5 pm today to decide on the final lineup for the league.