The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) that it can conduct the second Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) from July 22 to August 20 “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 June 24, 2016.”
Last year at a Working Committee meeting in Dharamshala presided over by then BCCI President Anurag Thakur, it was decided that the BCCI’s position with regard to allowing outstation cricketers playing in member units-organised Twenty20 league 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 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 Twenty20 tournament in their State and they wanted to invite players 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. It was felt, and rightly so that, allowing outstation players would affect the brand value of the 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.
Choudhary has also informed the TNCA that its communication to the TNCA is being sent to all members (of the BCCI) with a request to advise all their registered players accordingly so that they are compliant with the above.
