A total of 16 outstation cricketers will take the part in the third edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), starting from July 11. It will be the first time when outstation players will feature in the TNPL.
16 players have been equally divided into the eight teams as each team has two outstation players and both will be available together for playing XI.
On Wednesday, a total of 112 players from 13 state associations have taken the part for the outstation draft of the 2018 TNPL. To register for the TNPL outstation players’ draft, the players need to earn a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from their respective state associations. Moreover, they must be uncapped Indian players and hasn’t featured in the IPL 2018.
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Former Indian cricketers Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and VB Chandrasekhar have supported the inclusion of the outstation players in the 2018 TNPL.
According to the Sportstar, the former Indian leg-spinner Sivaramakrishnan said for the outstation players, “All the players have got a ‘No objective certificate’ from their respective host associations. When people can go and play county cricket in England, what’s the harm in bringing in outstation players with approvals from associations?
“Every cricketer needs more exposure. The more you play the game, the better you become. Let us look at the overall picture, TNPL is also a platform for players from other states to exhibit their talents.
“Cricket is not just a sport, it’s a profession or a career. I have seen people drop out from schools and colleges to play it. As a cricketer, I would be disappointed if I am not allowed to pick and choose where to play as long as it is under the laws.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and the team owner of VB Kachi Veerans, VB Chandrasekhar believes that the inclusion of the outstation players will increase the standard level of TNPL.
The 56-year-old said, “These players are fairly experienced. The tournament would give you the quality of a player in a capsule, includes skill level as well as mental standards. It gives them a chance to come back and show what they have.”
The 2018 TNPL will begin on July 11 and will run till the August 12. In the 33 days, a total of 32 matches will be played in three different venues. Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, Murali Vijay, Vijay Shankar etc. like big names will participate in this tournament.
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The 2012 ICC U-19 World-Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has been selected for Karaikudi Kaalai as an outstation player.
Here are the details of 16 outstation players
Tuti Patriots – Sheldon Jackson (Saurashtra), Salman Nizar (Kerala)
Chepauk Super Gillies – Kedar Devdhar (Baroda), Shaurya Sanandia (Saurashtra)
Kovai Kings – Dharmendra Jadeja (Saurashtra), Shoraab Dhaliwal (Madhya Pradesh)
Madurai Panthers – Amit Verma (Karnataka), Raiphi Vincent Gomez (Kerala)
Trichy Warriors – Himmat Singh (Delhi), Lukman Meriwala (Baroda)
Kanchi Veerans – Swapnil Singh (Baroda), Sandeep Warrier (Kerala)
Dindigul Dragons – Arpit Vasavada (Saurashtra), Hanuma Vihari (Andhra Pradesh)
Karaikudi Kaalai – Atit Sheth (Baroda), Unmukt Chand (Delhi)
