No TNCA office-bearer can bid for TNPL team

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) is keen to ensure that there are no conflict of interest controversies surfacing when the first Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) gets off the blocks in the last week of August.

The organizers of TNPL have made it clear that no TNCA office bearer will be allowed to own a franchise or be associated with it.

"TNPL will be an important property for us and we don't want to start off with a controversy. Therefore, we have made it amply clear that no current TNCA office-bearer will be al lowed to bid for a team. If somebody wants to do so, he will have to relinquish his post at the TNCA," a senior official told TOI on Thursday.

N Srinivasan, the TNCA president, is also the managing director of India Cements -the biggest promoters of the sport in Chennai.

This decision will mean that India Cements won't be able to bid for a team if Srinivasan has to carry on as the TNCA president.

Prasanna Kannan---the CEO of TNPL -is also an employee of India Cements and his presence, too, rules out India Cements' participation in the bidding.

As of now, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), too isn't keen to buy any team.

"We will get a clear picture on the possible bidders over the next few days," the source went on to point out.

Only state umpires and match-referees at TNPL

The TNPL matches will not only be a big opportunity for the state players, it will open up avenues for the state umpires as well. It has been decided that only Tamil Nadu umpires will officiate the games.

"The motive of TNPL is to not only unearth talent in Tamil Nadu, but also provide opportunity for officials from the state to make a mark. We want to give exposure to our state talent," TNPL CEO Prasanna Kannan told TOI on Thursday.

TNPL is in the process of expanding its team. "We are looking for someone to handle the cricket operations. The person would, in all possibility, be a former state cricketer but we haven't finalized anyone yet. We are also in the lookout for a commercial manager, anti-corruption officer and someone to handle the logistics," Prasanna said.