'TNPL should feature only TN cricketers,' BCCI tells TNCA

The TNCA had wanted the outstation players to take part in last year’s edition of the Twenty20 competition as well but was denied permission by the Board. The BCCI has informed the TNCA that it wanted, like last year, the TNPL to feature only cricketers from the State.

It has been gathered that the BCCI advised MCA to withdraw Rahul Tripathi from TNPL.

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), in a mail received on Friday evening, has been told by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that only those players, who come within the TNCA’s jurisdiction, should be fielded in the upcoming TNPL Twenty20 tournament.

Around 80-odd outstation cricketers have applied to be a part of the TNPL player draft that will be held here on June 23. Among them are some top names such as Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan.

The TNCA had wanted the outstation players to take part in last year’s edition of the Twenty20 competition as well but was denied permission by the Board.

The BCCI has informed the TNCA that it wanted, like last year, the TNPL to feature only cricketers from the State.

It has been learnt that the BCCI had asked the TNCA, whether it was following the rules on the basis of last year's Working Committee meeting – attended by a representative of the TNCA - resolution that barred outstation players from taking part in the TNPL.  

The Board has said that it has been consistent in this policy with all States. The BCCI also wanted the list of players taking part in the TNPL.

It has been gathered that when the Maharashtra Cricket Association sought clarification from the Board vis-à-vis its players figuring in the TNPL, the BCCI advised the State to withdraw attacking Pune batsman Rahul Tripathi from the TNPL.

The TNCA, though, plans to contest any move that prevents outstation cricketers from featuring in the TNPL.

According to the TNCA, many of the cricketers such as Piyush Chawla, are employed in Tamil Nadu and have been playing league cricket here for several years. “They cannot be classified as outstation cricketers,” said a TNCA official.

The TNCA is of the opinion that those cricketers who have signed up to play in the TNCA league cannot be called ‘outstation cricketers.’ And only those cricketers who are a part of a TNCA club are eligible for the TNPL player draft.

There is also a feeling within the TNCA that it is not quite right to prevent a cricketer of one State from playing a tournament in another State. “After all, this is India and we are playing in the same country,” he said.

The indications are that the TNCA wants to fight this out.