Are they on the way out to more 'Neutral' Clubs?
It is heard from reliable sources that a couple of the leading cricketers from India Cements cricket team playing first division cricket are looking for more ‘safe - neutral’ clubs. Given the developments over the last 6months and the shifting of cricketing powers, players may be looking for clubs that are politically and administratively neutral that would place them with better zonal and national prospects if they get back into form in the new season with the bat and ball.
A third player, who has been a key player with the state team is also said to be exploring opportunities. There are a few more players in the large pool of IC players who are also said to be 'in talks'. The said players have been with the IC clubs for many years.
A senior official of the club stated that it is the choice of the players to stay or leave and that they will not ‘go out of the way’ to prevent any such moves, though they have not heard anything officially from any player so far.
Another senior official said that the club has been nurturing players for two decades well before the emergence of this so called power-play and that it is likely that the club will take this in stride and life will move on. Also, the official claimed that these kinds of talks are a normal occurrence at the end of the season. While there may be truth to this theory, it assumes increased significance this year. Historically, over the last two decades and more, there has been a movement of players in local club cricket towards the ‘powers that be’. And hence if this does happen, it should not be a big surprise.
On another front, it is also reliably learnt that one of the senior players of the club has on behalf of the state players communicated to the official(s) about the manner of running the affairs of the TN state team and the consequent impact on the players.
A senior official of the TNCA stated that they had not received any such information in ‘writing’ and that they would understand the situation if any such communication reaches them.
While the league season has concluded for the Elite group, there are a couple of shorter version tournaments over the next couple of months as part of the 2015-16 calendar.