IFA Shield is losing it's appeal like the Durand Cup , if they wanted to improve it , they should have it in pre-season , but that is in the monsoon time in Kolkata.
No I-League club will risk playing in it and injuring players/fatigue, when 9 crucial games are there in I-League
East Bengal have more games in I-League than others
Pune FC have additional AFC games
Churchill, Rangdajied and Dempo ( who never attend) have relegation concerns
Shillong could've done with the extra revenue, but with their small squad already stretched, they would rather focus on a top 5 finish this season.
Comments
mb will test reserve bench players
source : 2days "The Telegraph"