UP cricket no stranger to tussle between players, management
After a humilating defeat against Railways, UP back on winning ways
LUCKNOW: Much before Uttar Pradesh won their maiden Ranji Trophy in 2005-06 here, reports of an alleged tussle between players and the management kept haunting the team’s performance for several years.
The situation was such that a country-made pistol was recovered from a cricketer’s kitbag in the past as he wanted to terrorise some of his colleagues who were much better than him. Playing cards was their cricketers’ favourite pastime in the evening. The clash of egos too kept hitting the side hard.
Things changed dramatically when Gyanendra Pandey took the reins of the side. The impact was evident when he took the side to the Ranji Trophy final in 1997-98 after a gap of 23 years. The maiden title win came eight seasons later when the Mohd Kaif-led side lifted the glittering trophy in 2005-06 on the basis of the first innings lead against Bengal.
The victory helped UP gain a new image in the domestic circuit. Many of the members of the winning side, including Kaif, made the cut for Team India. There were a few disappointments after that win. But for most part, UP managed to stay among the top four teams in the Ranji Trophy. Gyanendra Pandey was then the coach of the side.
Because of ego clashes between the players and the management, the team witnessed its worst run in the last three years when former Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad was given charge of the side as the chief coach. Last season, the team was almost relegated to the plate division.
When the fresh season began this time, stand-in skipper Praveen Kumar and new coach Rizwan Shamshad were supposed to help the side turn the corner. But after a dull draw in the opening game against Madhya Pradesh at Muzzafarnagar, the clash of egos came to the fore once again. The team had to face their worst defeat against the Railways at Ghaziabad.
Once again it was Gyanendra Pandey, who brought things under control when UP Cricket Association bosses asked him to rush to Andhra Pradesh with the team. Surprisingly, UP not only scored their maiden outright win of the season under new skipper Eklavya Dwivedi, but also emerged victorious in the next game against Gujarat in Gujarat.
“Yes, there was an ego clash between a few in the match against Railways, but now things are under control and the side has been doing wonders,” coach Rizwan Shamshad told HT on Tuesday. Though he refused to name the players and the officials, he praised the side for playing like a cohesive unit.
“The issue was blown out of proportion and local people made propaganda about this clash of egos between players and the officials,” said Shamshad, adding, “We need not discuss that issue now. The boys should focus on their performances in the remaining matches.” “We made a superb comeback in the Ranji Trophy this season after a bad start. This could be made possible when we all sat together and discussed the issues within the team. Thereafter, everyone did his best, especially PK, who was outstanding with both bat and ball in both matches.”
On permanent skipper Suresh Raina leading the side in the next match against Mumbai starting November 7 at Mumbai, Rizwan termed it a great opportunity for the team to notch up at least the first innings lead against the several- time former champions. “Raina’s presence in the team for the remaining four matches is going to be a great moral booster and he has the ability to motivate the side to further wins,” added Rizwan.
For this match, Mohd Saif has been ruled out due to fever. Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav and batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed have staged a comeback after playing in the under-19 Challenger Series at Pune. Ali Murtaza has been left out.