No IPL, no problem! Tamil Nadu to make up for CSK's absence with their own T20 league

With the Chennai Super Kings serving a two-year suspension from the Indian Premier League, the cricket fanatics in the state of Tamil Nadu are missing out on the enthralling drama that the league is known to dish out when it runs annually. However, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association have taken it upon themselves to bring back the Twenty20 fever back in the state with the launch of their very own professional cricket league in the state. [caption id=“attachment_2723606” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. GettyImages[/caption] The proposed franchise-based league is likely to have eight teams and has been tentatively scheduled from August end to mid-September, later this year, according to a ESPNcricinfo report. The TNCA secretary, Kasi Viswanathan acknowledged the growing love for the shorter format of the game in the state and felt a new professional league is thus necessary for the people of the state. “We are not having [any matches] so we thought, ‘okay, let us do this for our boys,” Viswanathan said. The launch of a similar league was shot down three years ago by TNCA President, N Srinivasan, but many believe a green signal to the league now will strengthen Srinivasan’s relevance in the larger context. There were murmurs about BCCI’s vindictive nature towards Srinivasan when they allotted four non-televised Women’s World T20 matches in Chennai. Former Indian pacer, L Balaji who is the bowling coach of Tamil Nadu side has encouraged the plans for a professional Twenty20 league, claiming the league will boost the team’s chances in the national domestic competitions. “It is a good sign for Tamil Nadu cricket; cricketers of other state have been benefiting from these kind of leagues. Our cricket history is much stronger compared to many other states, so we definitely deserve a league.” Balaji said.