Dicussion on UPCA’s own stadium unlikely

Changes in selection panels are on the cards

At least for now, the issue of having its own stadium is unlikely to be discussed ‘seriously’ during Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association’s annual general meeting in Kanpur on Friday.

Sources say that with the possibility of UPCA and state government’s UP sports directorate signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the lease of the Green Park stadium in near future, there is little chance for this topic to be raised during the meeting.

“I don’t think we need to discuss this at the AGM right now as we are on the verge of signing an MoU for the Green Park lease. For now, we are focussing to host at least one match of the forthcoming India-West Indies series in November here,” said a UPCA official on condition of anonymity.

“Ever since we lost our control over the Green Park, we have been desperately making efforts to regain it, and if everything goes according to our plan, soon UPCA will be having the stadium on its lease,” he added.

However, some UPCA officials believe that the issue of having its own stadium should be discussed on a priority basis at Friday’s AGM. “Our hopes to have stadium on lease have been hanging in balance since 200506, but nothing has happened to far. Its tome we started making efforts to construct our own stadium,” said one of the directors preferring anonymity.

“Since many provisions of the MoU prepared by the government aren’t profitable to the UPCA, we should seriously take up the issue of our own stadium,” he added.

Besides electing the officebearers for a fresh term, UPCA’s secretary Rajiv Shukla-led meeting is also expected to discuss the issues related to different appointments of individuals. Changes in both the senior and junior selection committees are also expected.