The second edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League is going to kickstart in July and cricketers are allowed to register their names in the draft which is probably going to take place in the second week of June.
Some of the top stars who are registered with the TNCA are Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal), leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, Punjab speedster Sandeep Sharma, Gujarat Lions and Kerala pacer Basil Thampi, KKR and Saurashtra wicket-keeper batsman Sheldon Jackson, Delhi batsman Unmukt Chand, India U19 skipper Abhishek Sharma, Punjab all-rounder Gurkeerat Mann, allrounder Jalaj Saxena, Kerala batsman Rohan Prem, Andhra keeper batsman Srikar Bharat, Himachal Pradesh batsman Robin Bist and Maharashtra batsman Ankit Bawane, who is now part of the Delhi Daredevils squad.
Chawla, Bawne has already signed up for the draft.It is also learnt that Kerala speedster Basil Thampi, who won the Emerging Player Trophy in IPL 10, is likely to register for the draft in three days’ time.
“Chawla, Bawne and Bist have filled their forms for the draft. Thampi is eager to take part in the competition and is on a high after his good show in the IPL. He is expected to register later this week,” a source said.
Though last year BCCI didn’t allow outer players to participate, this time they are free to take part in the league.
Indian allrounder Jayant Yadav, who plays TNCA first division league, is unlikely to register for the TNPL draft. There is no clarity yet on whether the Pandya brothers – Hardik and Krunal – will be available for the draft. They were registered with a second division team last season. Hardik is busy playing for India in Champions Trophy.
A few teams in TNCA second division league are in talks with the Kerala trio of Samson, Sachin Baby and Vishnu Vinod.
“Sir Theagaraya RC is in talks with Vishnu. The dashing batsman is likely to sign the deal and moreover, e is no stranger to TNCA league. He did feature for a second division team in 2015-2016 season. A couple of teams are in touch with Baby and Samson as well. But nothing has been finalised as of now. If these guys do register themselves in the league, then there is every possibility of them featuring in the draft too,” said an official.