UPT20 League venue still undecided as uncertainty continues
· Yahoo Sports
LUCKNOW: The fourth edition of the UPT20 League has come under focus as uncertainty continues over where the tournament will be staged, following a series of meetings involving the Uttar Pradesh Sports Department, the UPT20 League governing council and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA).
The debate intensified after Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi posted on X that matches earlier shifted to Lucknow’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium would now be played at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.
In his post, Awasthi described the development as “big good news for the people of Kanpur,” thanked chief minister Yogi Adityanath for taking “immediate cognisance,” and said the move would help preserve Kanpur’s sporting heritage and keep the “vibrancy of Green Park” intact.
The message triggered renewed speculation among fans and stakeholders about whether the league would return fully to Kanpur, remain in Lucknow, or be split between the two cities. However, officials associated with the league and the state association have adopted a cautious approach while discussions remain ongoing.
UPT20 League governing council chairman Sanjay Kapoor urged observers not to rely on speculation. “Don't pay attention to rumours; we are making preparations. Under Rajiv Shukla's guidance, the league will be executed in the best possible manner. Discussions are currently underway behind the scenes,” Kapoor told TOI.
UPCA secretary Prem Manohar Gupta said the association had not wanted to move the tournament away from Green Park but had been compelled to consider a shift because of infrastructure constraints at the Kanpur venue.
Gupta cited the stadium’s ageing facilities, inadequate floodlighting, limited spectator capacity and concerns about rain-related disruptions as key factors influencing the move.
“The UPCA had no intention of shifting the UPT20 League venue from Green Park Stadium in Kanpur to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, but the move has become necessary due to major infrastructure-related issues,” Gupta said. He added that rectifying these shortcomings would require time and significant expenditure, and that talks were continuing.
A final call on whether the tournament will be held in Kanpur, Lucknow, or across two venues is expected after the current round of discussions concludes.
The debate intensified after Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi posted on X that matches earlier shifted to Lucknow’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium would now be played at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.
In his post, Awasthi described the development as “big good news for the people of Kanpur,” thanked chief minister Yogi Adityanath for taking “immediate cognisance,” and said the move would help preserve Kanpur’s sporting heritage and keep the “vibrancy of Green Park” intact.
The message triggered renewed speculation among fans and stakeholders about whether the league would return fully to Kanpur, remain in Lucknow, or be split between the two cities. However, officials associated with the league and the state association have adopted a cautious approach while discussions remain ongoing.
UPT20 League governing council chairman Sanjay Kapoor urged observers not to rely on speculation. “Don't pay attention to rumours; we are making preparations. Under Rajiv Shukla's guidance, the league will be executed in the best possible manner. Discussions are currently underway behind the scenes,” Kapoor told TOI.
UPCA secretary Prem Manohar Gupta said the association had not wanted to move the tournament away from Green Park but had been compelled to consider a shift because of infrastructure constraints at the Kanpur venue.
Gupta cited the stadium’s ageing facilities, inadequate floodlighting, limited spectator capacity and concerns about rain-related disruptions as key factors influencing the move.
“The UPCA had no intention of shifting the UPT20 League venue from Green Park Stadium in Kanpur to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, but the move has become necessary due to major infrastructure-related issues,” Gupta said. He added that rectifying these shortcomings would require time and significant expenditure, and that talks were continuing.
A final call on whether the tournament will be held in Kanpur, Lucknow, or across two venues is expected after the current round of discussions concludes.
Visit rouesnews.click for more information.