Chennai:  Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been appointed as vice-president of India Cements, a company which is headed by BCCI President N Srinivasan. The Indian skipper is also expected to play for his new employers in the BCCI Corporate Trophy which began on Friday.

According to media reports, despite his earlier intention to be out of cricketing action ahead of the important home series against Australia, the inclusion of Dhoni's name in the India Cements squad for February 1-8 Corporate Trophy had surely raised some eye-brows.

India Cements are the owners of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings of which Dhoni has been the captain since 2008 and Srinivasan is the Managing Director-cum-vice-chairman of the company. The latest move to make Dhoni a vice-president of Indian Cements could come under criticism on the ground of conflict of interest. Dhoni is known to have the complete backing of Srinivasan who is said to have vetoed a move to remove him from Indian captaincy after a string of Test losses earlier.

The Corporate Trophy will be held in four cities - Pune, Nagpur, Indore and Raipur. The Irani Trophy will be held in Mumbai from February 6 to 10.