BCCI asks TNCA to exclude outstation players in TNPL player draft

The BCCI asked TNCA to confirm that no outstation players — those who represent any team other than Tamil Nadu in the BCCI domestic tournaments — have been included in the player draft for the TNPL.

N. Srinivasan, president of TNCA, and Bharat Raman, CEO of TNPL, at the unveiling of the new Tamil Nadu Premier League logo in Chennai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) that it can conduct the second edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) "in compliance with the MoA, Rules and Regulations of the BCCI, as well as the decision taken by the BCCI working committee at its meeting held on 24th June 2016."

It was decided in last year's working committee meeting in Dharamsala, chaired by the then BCCI president Anurag Thakur, that the board’s position on allowing outstation players from playing in Twenty20 leagues organised by member units has not changed as per the decision taken at a working committee meeting held in Mumbai on August 13, 2009. Shashank Manohar was the BCCI president then and N. Srinivasan, the secretary.

The minutes under item 16 (any other business with permission of the Board) of the working committee of August 13, 2009) states: "Chairman informed the house that the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) wanted to arrange Karnataka T20 Tournament in their State and they wanted to invite cricketers from other State Associations. The Chairman while appreciating the efforts of KSCA to promote and develop the game turned down the request to invite players from other associations.’’

After this meeting, N. Srinivasan informed the BCCI’s decision in writing to the KSCA. Allowing outstation players, BCCI felt, would affect the brand value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was founded in 2008.

In response to a letter from the TNCA, the BCCI’s acting secretary, Amitabh Choudhary has said: "With reference to the past practice adopted by the BCCI while dealing with the requests of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the Goa Cricket Association (GCA), please note that the two letters addressed by the BCCI to the KSCA and GCA regarding their respective T20 leagues clearly state that (a) only players registered in/with the KSCA and GCA respectively can participate in the said tournaments; and (b) No player from other states and/or outstation players are permitted to play in the said tournaments.

The BCCI response further says: "In light of the aforesaid, whilst your confirmation that every player in the player draft scheduled to be held on 23rd June 2017 (Player Draft) is a registered player of TNCA is duly noted, you are also requested to specifically confirm that no player from other states and/or outstation players (i.e. players who represent any team other than Tamil Nadu in the BCCI Domestic Tournaments) have been included in the Player Draft."