CHENNAI: India’s domestic season this year will begin in Natham, a nondescript town in Dindigul district after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has communicated to the BCCI that MA Chidambaram Stadium won’t be able to conduct matches because of prior local league commitments. Natham, which is currently hosting the third season of Tamil Nadu Premier League, in the recent years has played host to Ranji Trophy.
The BCCI on Wednesday released the domestic fixtures for the 2018/19 season with Duleep Trophy to be played between August 17 and September 8. With the tournament likely to be televised, Express understands that TNCA had kept both the official broadcaster and BCCI in the loop before taking the decision. The ground situated inside the NPR College has makeshift stands and TNCA officials revealed that it would be able to garner the fans, given some of the big names in domestic circuit will be in action.
The Natham ground has five strips and three of it will be used for the Duleep Trophy. With Natham hosting the TNPL till August 10, groundsmen revealed they have been told to make a green top for Duleep Trophy, which is mandatory because the tournament is played with the pink ball. Though the ground has hosted Ranji matches before, this is the first time an entire tournament will be hosted in the district.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com