TNPL: Focus on outstation players on deadline day

Yusuf Pathan, Pawan Negi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Priyank Panchal, Sanju Samson, and Swapnil Singh along with many other outstation cricketers could be seen in TNPL which gets underway on July 22.

Robin Bist could play in the Tamil Nadu Premier League this year.

As the deadline for cricketers registering for the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) approaches – it closes on June 15 evening – the scenario is turning interesting.

Predictably much focus is on outstation cricketers. Players from the other States who are registered with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) clubs are eligible to play in TNPL if they sign up before the cut-off date.

The TNCA is confident about the outstation players being allowed to display their skills in TNPL this season; these cricketers were not permitted to take part in the Twenty20 competition last year by the BCCI.

Several names are doing the rounds this time around. Yusuf Pathan, Pawan Negi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Priyank Panchal, Sanju Samson, and Swapnil Singh along with many other outstation cricketers could be seen in TNPL which gets underway on July 22.

• The player draft for the outstation cricketers and those players released by the various franchises this year will be held on June 23.

When Sportstar spoke to Yusuf, a hard-hitting batsman and handy off-spinner, he said, “Yes, I have registered myself with TNPL. I am free during July-August and it is a good tournament.”

But then, Yusuf is yet to sign up with a TNCA club which is a mandatory requirement. “I have not tied up with a TNCA club so far. I will speak to my friend in Chennai in this regard. I am keen to play in TNPL,” he revealed.  

Leg-spinner Chahal, hard-hitting left-arm-spinning all-rounder Negi and exciting wicket-keeping batsman Samson could all be in the TNPL mix.

Apart from these players, outstation cricketers who are already a part of the TNCA league such as Piyush Chawla, Robin Bist, Sandeep Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Prashant Parameshwaran, Jiwanjot Singh, Ganesh Satish and Jajaj Saxena will all be eligible for the draft if they sign up for TNPL before Thursday evening.

The TNCA too is now permitting four outstation cricketers in every league team even if only two of them can actually play in the eleven. The move will enable more cricketers to be eligible for TNPL.

This is precisely why the TNCA league and the TNPL are inextricably linked this season.

Ahead of the next edition of the TNCA first division league, which begins on July 1, several players have already begun to shift clubs.

This is a season – which comes once in four years – where every cricketer has to register afresh. Hence, a player can sign up for a club 72 hours before the start of the first set of matches.

Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas is likely to move from Vijay CC to Jolly Rovers. Nelson has roped in Robin Bist (from Rovers), the heavy scoring Gujarat batsman Priyank Panchal and Baroda left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh. Despite the rumours, IPL sensation Washington Sundar is expected to remain with Globe Trotters.

Delhi wicket-keeper batsman Puneet Bisht – he has figured in 72 first class games – and Kerala batsman Rohan Prem will be joining the promoted T.I. Cycles.

Meanwhile, the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal, who were with the second division club Swaraj last season, will not be seen this season.

Hardik is busy with international commitments while Krunal has fitness issues. Can they squeeze out time for TNPL?

The big question is will cricketers who sign up for TNPL before June 15 evening be given time to find a TNCA club 72 hours prior to the commencement of the inaugural round of matches this season on July 1.