Coimbatore: Last year’s TNPL was dominated by Coimbatore cricketers with 11 players playing for different teams in the league. Five more players from Coimbatore will make their debut in this edition of TNPL.
Coimbatore: Last year’s TNPL was dominated by Coimbatore cricketers with 11 players playing for different teams in the league. Five more players from Coimbatore will make their debut in this edition of TNPL.
The draft for fourth edition of TNPL was held on Thursday at Crowne plaza, Chennai in which a total of 878 players applied for the draft. The draft proceedings were conducted by Former India batsman and commentator Subramaniam Badrinath.
While Mohammed Ashik, Karuppasamy, Veeramani and Sugendhiran from Coimbatore are making their debut in the league, batsman Sujay and fast bowler Gowtham Thamarai Kannan came back into the league after a year’s break and All rounder R Mithun who played for Lyca Kovai kings last season was picked by Siechem Madurai Panthers for the upcoming edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Mohammed Ashik who is capable of hitting big sixes was picked by Lyca Kovai Kings. "Very happy to be part of Lyca Kovai Kings in this edition of TNPL and this is the reward for hard work. I was working hard for last couple of years and I think this is the beginning in my career and I hope I'll use this oppurtunity to grow bigger in my career. And it's exciting to play in front of large crowd and under lights", said Ashik.
Interestingly, Karuppusamy (32) and veeramani (31) have proved that age is not a barricade in cricket. All rounders who were playing club cricket in the city for more than 10 years came into the limelight in this edition of TNPL.
P Sugendhiran, all rounder, was selected by VB Kanchi Veerans for this edition.
M Anbu, the young budding all-rounder from Coimbatore who is a leading run-scorer and scalped 25 wickets in the 4th division TNCA City League in Chennai has been picked by Dindigul Dragons to play in the upcoming season of TNPL.
Other than these five debutants, Sujay and Gowtham Thamarai Kannan were the top pick of the day since both the players played the first and second edition of TNPL.
Sujay, batsman who played for Karaikudi Kaalai in the first edition of TNPL was later released by his team and next season he played for Thiruvallur Veerans. Sujay was not picked in the third edition of TNPL and now with his hard work he secured his spot in Dindigul Dragons.
Fast bowler Gowtham Thamarai Kannan who was part of Lyca Kovai Kings in the first two editions of TNPL is now picked by VB Kanchi Veerans. "Making a comeback after a year is important in my career. In this one year I worked hard and performed well in the club matches to earn this opportunity. I would like to thank Shankar Vanavarayar sir and Nishanth sir for their support even though I was not selected in third edition, they backed and supported me financially” and my coach Gurusamy, who sculpted me to reach this level.
R. Mithun, another all rounder from the city who represented the home team (Lyca Kovai Kings) did not get enough chances in the last season and was later released by his team management. In this year's draft, all rounder Mithun was picked by Seichem Madurai Panthers.
The fourth season of the TNPL begins from July 19 at the NPR College ground, Dindigul with last year’s finalists Dindigul Dragons taking on 2017 champions Chepauk Super Gillies.
ICL-Sankar Nagar ground, Tirunelveli and MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai are the other venues for the season that will comprise of 32 matches. The final will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium on August 18, 2019.