Tamil Nadu Cricket Association releases T Natarajan due to BCCI request

Left-arm pacer T Natarajan has been released by the Tamil Nadu squad for the upcoming 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy which will start from 20 February to 14 March

BCCI wants Thangarasu Natarajan to stay fresh for the limited-overs ODI and T20I series against England next month, TNCA official said on Thursday.

T Natarajan had played non-stop cricket from the IPL in September to the Test series in Australia last month, staying in biosecure bubbles throughout for five straight months

Natarajan was earlier included in a 20-man Tamil Nadu squad for the tournament beginning February 20. Tamil Nadu had recently won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad.

RS Jaganath Srinivas will take Natarajan’s place in the 20-member squad which will leave for Indore on February 13.

The BCCI and the Indian team management wanted Natarajan to be fresh for the white-ball leg of the series against England. Keeping the Indian team’s interests in mind we said yes,” Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary RS Ramaswamy

• Read this: India Chooses Rishabh pant as the first-class Wicket-keeper for the ENG vs IND

The first of the five T20 Internationals against England will be played from March 12 to March 20 in Ahmedabad while the first ODI will take place in Pune from March 23 to March 28.