The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association is set to draft outstation players for the upcoming edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India telling them not to, according to a report in the Times of India. The BCCI had said that only players within the jurisdiction of the state of Tamil Nadu are allowed to play in the T20 tournament.

The BCCI has written to the TNCA asking whether they were complying with the rules and regulations discussed during the working committee meeting last June. “Our mail is self-explanatory and it states that only players from Tamil Nadu are allowed to play and no outstation players will be allowed,” the report quoted a BCCI official as saying.

However, a total of 88 outstation players have signed up for the draft. BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary has sought clarity on the matter. According to Clause 28 (permission to conduct tournaments) of the BCCI constitution, “no member shall organise any tournament in which players from outside their jurisdiction are participating without the previous permission of the Board”.

However, TNCA retaliated by saying that outstation players who are registered with various TNCA clubs can play the tournament. “Those who are registered with TNCA clubs, automatically come under the association’s jurisdiction,” a TNCA official told the daily.

“BCCI only wants to know whether TNCA is following the body’s rules in conducting the tournament and fielding the players,” he added. “TNCA will reply by Tuesday that the players have registered with its clubs and therefore come under its jurisdiction.”