TNPL draft goes ahead without outstation players

The Tamil Nadu Premiere League draft was short and sweet affair due to the absence of the outstation cricketers from the list. Inaugurated in 2016, TNPL had roped in a few outstation players including big stars Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and Manoj Tiwary, but the BCCI did not allow them to participate in the draft.

BCCI have been firm in their stance of not allowing outstation cricketers to participate in such leagues. Since the restriction, the players draft was just 32 and was held at a city hotel in Chennai. The eight franchises took just one hour to pick players for the upcoming season. The defending champions Albert Tuti Patriots did not pick a single player whereas Madurai Super Giant picked as many as 9 players including upcoming batsman Shah Rukh Khan. The franchise had released most of its players after the opening season after losing all 7 games and finishing at the bottom of the points table.

“We are happy with what we have. Last year’s performances don’t matter. With a bunch of young talents, we are looking forward to a good season ahead,” Madurai Supergiant coach Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan told Sportstar.

Badani, Badrinath happy with their respective picks

Chepauk Super Gillies roped in Suthesh R and Radhakrishnan S. Suthesh, who played for Ruby Kanchi Warriors last year, was signed by Chepauk as they needed a left-arm seamer. Radhakrishnan will miss most of the season as he will be busy playing for the India colts in England but their coach Hemang Badani is happy with the decision.

“We brought in Suthesh to bolster the bowling attack,” Super Gillies coach Hemang Badani said. “We were keen on getting Radhakrishnan for the future. It is not just about this season. A youngster like Radhakrishnan would actually be of great effect in the future,” Badani explained.

Karaikudi Kaalai, a franchise which is led by former India batsman S. Badrinath, picked up 5 players. The skipper was present at the draft and was happy with the procurements.

“We got what we wanted. The idea was to maintain the core team, and this time, we have invested on a few youngsters who are good. We needed to plug a few holes, and that’s how we went into the drafts,” Badrinath said.

Dindigul Dragon, who finished second in the league last year, picked three players and so did VB Thiruvallur. Ruby Trichy Warriors snapped six players while Lyca Koval Kings acquired four. “With drafts and wide coverage, the TNPL is a great event. This will help the players stay pumped up and we are happy with our choice of players in the drafts,” Ruby Trichy Warriors coach Tinu Yohannan said.

Hope for outstation cricketers

The TNCA is still in talks with BCCI with the ongoing feud over outstation players and will have a discussion on the same again though it seems very unlikely if BCCI will change their stance. If they do, the TNPL will hold another players draft for the outstation cricketers sometime next week.

Here are the 32 local players who were picked according to sportstarlive: