NEW DELHI, Aug 11: The Indian Premier League shifting its base to the United Arab Emirates for the 2020 edition may prove to be a blessing in disguise for at least 50 unheralded cricketers, who are set to travel with the eight teams as �exclusive� net bowlers.
At least three franchises, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals confirmed that they are preparing a roster of net bowlers.
The list comprises mostly first-class, U-19 and U-23 state level cricketers who will get to bowl to the likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant for close to a month.
The convention all these years has been using local bowlers for nets apart from the junior fringe players but the strict bio-security measures for the tournament means that all franchise will have to arrange for quality bowlers during practice sessions.
While BCCI has capped the squad strength (players) to 24, the franchises have not been specified contingent volume which will vary from team to team but it could be safely assumed that most of the eight sides will not avail any local net bowlers.
�If all goes well, we are planning to take around 10 bowlers exclusively to UAE for the practice sessions. They will be accompanying the team and will remain till the tournament starts,� Chennai Super Kings CEO Kashi Vishwanathan told PTI on Tuesday.
The Kolkata Knight Riders also confirmed that they will also have 10 net bowlers in their roster, likely to be hand-picked by former Mumbai captain and their academy coach Abhishek Nayar.
�It will be a blend of players of who have played Ranji Trophy while some of have played U-23 and U-19 national level tournaments,� someone who is privy to developments in the KKR camp informed. � PTI
