The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is likely to be held from August 25 to September 12, an informed source revealed to The Hindu here on Monday.
And the tenders for the franchise and media rights would be issued from May 2 to May 15. And both these rights will be decided in the last week of May.
Although a final decision has not been taken yet, the base price for a franchise for a five-year period could be around Rs. 1.25 crore.
The source said, “Already corporates who are involved in the TNCA first division league and a few leading software firms have shown interest in TNPL. We expect the bidding to be vibrant. We will follow an open bidding process.”
Providing details about the competition, the source said, “Eight teams will be divided into two groups. We will have two matches a day, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., on alternate days at Chennai and Natham respectively.”
The source added, “After six days and 12 matches, we will have a day’s break so that the teams can travel. In all, the league phase will run for two weeks and will comprise 24 games. Then there will be the semifinals and the final, which would be held under lights at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.”
He said, “Efforts are on to install quality floodlights at Natham that will match telecast standards.”
The tournament, the source said, would be open only for the registered players in Tamil Nadu. And all the teams will be prefixed with the names of the districts.
The source said the all-India Kalpathi Buchi Babu tournament would be held at all cost. “Normally we would have had the Buchi Babu tournament from August 15 to 30. We will advance the dates to hold the competition from August 5 to 20. And the TNPL will only start from August 25.”
The Twenty20 competition for the TNCA first division sides, from May 31 to June 12, would act as a feeder tournament for TNPL, the source said. “The talent scouts from various franchises will have a chance to look at the players.”
On the question of the players being auctioned, the source said a final call had not been taken. “It could either be an auction or a player rotation method,” the source said.
