New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Envied for its deep bulging pockets, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to bat for its poor cousins and will amend its constitution next month to form a Rs 50 crore corpus to uplift other sports in the country.

According to BCCI marketing committee member I S Bindra the board was looking to promote Olympic sports and the modalities would be worked out at the BCCI meet on May 20.

''The board has earmarked Rs 50 crore to promote the Olympic sports at the grassroot level. The BCCI constituion will be amended in this regard during the May 20 meet,'' Mr Bindra said at a function in the Capital to fete Table Tennis medal winners at Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Courtesy a slew of marketing deals, the BCCI has seen an astronomical rise in its income which is set to cross the magical one billion dollar mark.

Mr Bindra, who has served as the president of BCCI as well as Table Tennis Federation of India, said the paddlers were peforming exceedingly well and it was not going to be long before they get sponsors.

Recalling how the game has thrived without the govenment's support he hailed table tennis as the most professionally run sport in the country.

UNI DH AY VC1615