TNPL 2020 not called off yet: TNCA secretary
Although the coronavirus-enforced lockdown has been extended until July 31 in the state, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) is yet to make a decision on the fifth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), according to its secretary RS Ramasaamy.
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TNPL, the flagship competition of TNCA, was initially scheduled to begin on June 10, but had to be postponed because of the spread of the deadly virus. During an interaction with DT Next last month, the board official suggested that August could be a possible window to host TNPL 2020.
But with the state government in no mood to lift the lockdown until at least the end of July, organising the franchise-based event next month looks improbable. However, Ramasaamy asserted that the T20 tournament has not been cancelled yet.
“Officially, we (board members) have not taken any decision. We have not called it off, but we don’t know when it is going to happen this year. We are just waiting and watching,” Ramasaamy told this newspaper on Wednesday.
The TNCA secretary said the TNPL Season 5 could take place at the end of the year if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to do away with certain domestic competitions.
But, even that would be possible only when things are back to normal in the state. “Now that most of the BCCI tournaments won’t happen, we can probably accommodate TNPL. BCCI, obviously, is not going to conduct all the events (for the 2020-21 season). So, there might be a window (to have the state league). But, the situation is not clear and nothing is certain as of now,” added Ramasaamy.
Asked when one can expect developments, he replied: “If the lockdown had not been extended, we would have had a meeting this week. If anything is going to happen, it will be around the end of this month.”
‘No mails from BCCI yet’
A couple of weeks back, a report emerged that BCCI is mulling over the idea of holding the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in TNPL and Karnataka Premier League (KPL) venues, if given the nod by the Indian government. But, Ramasaamy said the state association has not received any official messages regarding it thus far.
“I don’t know if the news is authentic, but it makes sense. If BCCI is planning to have IPL in September and October, north India will be in the midst of the monsoon. So, it may look at south Indian venues. However, TNCA has not got any mails,” he stated.
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