NPL - TNCA to make a last attempt for outstation players

In what could be termed a last-minute effort the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association will make a request to the BCCI to allow the outstation players registered with the association to take part in the TNPL. The move comes a day after six TN players - Abhinav Mukund, Dinesh Karthik, M Vijay, K.B. Arun Karthick, M. Ashwin and B. Aparajith - were named in the Duleep squads.

Their potential absence for large part of the tournament might take the sheen away from the T20 league.
"TNCA officials are looking at the situation and have been in touch with the BCCI after the announcement of the Duleep teams. TNCA will talk to the BCCI regarding the player draft on Saturday.

"It is a last-minute effort to rope in the TNCA registered outstation players not playing the Duleep Trophy into the league," said a source. The TNPL player draft held last month didn't feature outstation cricketers as the BCCI didn't give its nod.

Some of the top outstation players in TNCA league are Piyush Chawla, Ankeet Bawane and Unmukt Chand. Pandya brothers -Hardik, who is currently part of the India A team Down Under and Krunal -have also registered with the TNCA ahead of the TNPL.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that R Ashwin, who wasn't named for Duleep, will be available for TNPL after India's T20 series against the West Indies in the US concludes later this month.