Ekana stadium under an overcast sky
Qualifier-1 and the Eliminator will be played on Sept 3, Qualifier-2 will be held on Sept 4, while the title clash of UPT20 League will be held on Sept 6 at Ekana Stadium. Under this plan, UPCA had allotted 22 matches to Lucknow and 12 matches to Kanpur. Of the Kanpur matches, 8 league matches and 4 playoff matches, including the final, had been scheduled. After that, one match was washed out by rain, another had to be reduced to 12 overs. Two matches could be completed while another could be played for only 5 overs. UP T-20 League governing council chairperson Sanjay Kapoor told TOI that the quality of matches was most important for league management, and players’ interests.
Initially, preparations were being made to hold the league in Kanpur, but due to weak infrastructure at Green Park Stadium, it was shifted from Kanpur to Lucknow.
Later, it was said that the league would be organized in two cities—all the opening matches would be held in Lucknow, while some league matches of the second phase, the playoffs and the final would be kept in Kanpur. Lucknow: Rain has had a deep impact on the second phase of the ongoing UPT20 League, changing the course of the tournament. Now, once again, the league’s playoff matches and final will be held in Lucknow instead of Kanpur. The fourth edition of the UPT20 League has remained in discussion from the beginning. In particular, the venue was changed twice. Monday’s match was also hit by rain.
He said that a study of weather forecast for the coming days indicated that continuous rain might occur in Kanpur, due to which playoffs and final match were shifted to Lucknow.
Kapoor said that the decision was not taken to benefit or disadvantage any one team, but keeping in mind the fairness of the game and in the interest of players.