In a first, TNPL to add outstation players

According to sources, the decision to add the outstation players was taken on Tuesday and the new rule will come into force in this edition itself. This means a second player draft will be held shortly for the teams to pick the two candidates for the third TNPL which starts on July 11. When it was conceived two years ago, the TNPL was only for TN players. 

The BCCI did not allow  outstation players to participate, but the tournament has grown in stature over the last two editions and in that sense, this is a recognition for the tournament from the Indian board. 

The two tours that are affecting the TNPL are India’s tour of UK and also the ongoing India A tour of England, which will basically take away the cream of Indian talent from the second auction. 

Though they will be available only for the second half of the league, the TNPL teams will still have a wide pool of talent to choose from and on top of the chart is Rishabh Pant of Delhi, whose batting exploits in the IPL, could make him the hottest property in the outstation players list. 

There are big names such as Sanju Samson (RR), Deepak Chahar (CSK), Deepak Hooda (SRH) and emerging leg-spinner Mayank Markande (MI) who will be up for grabs in the second auction through the details of the draft are not yet known.