Uttar Pradesh is systematically expanding its cricket footprint with the completion of a major sports arena in the eastern part of the state, ensuring that premier sporting fixtures are no longer confined strictly to central hubs. For decades, elite domestic and international cricket in the state revolved around Kanpur's heritage Green Park and Lucknow's modern Ekana Stadium. However, Varanasi has now emerged as the newest cricket destination, boasting a freshly built stadium primed to stage elite action. Following the 21st annual general meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association held in Kanpur on Wednesday, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla shared that the venue is being readied to host men's fixtures featuring Indian national team cricketers, prestigious domestic matches, and premier women's tournaments.
Varanasi Eyes Inauguration and Women's Cricket League
Detailing the timeline for Varanasi, Rajeev Shukla confirmed that physical construction on the new venue has concluded. A comprehensive operational roadmap for staging competitive fixtures will be rolled out immediately following its formal inauguration ceremony. A major highlight in the UPCA pipeline is the proposal to organize a dedicated women's cricket league at the Varanasi ground. Launching marquee women's fixtures here is intended to give the Purvanchal region an unprecedented cricket launchpad, opening doors for local emerging players to showcase their skills on a professional stage. The inclusion of this world-class stadium expands the logistical capacity of the state association to host multiple concurrent fixtures across different formats.
Ghaziabad Prepared as Western UP Anchor
The state association is also focusing on broad regional decentralization by developing western Uttar Pradesh. Infrastructure efforts are actively underway to ready Ghaziabad for hosting high-profile cricket matches in the near future. Once fully operational, this network will connect Green Park in Kanpur and Ekana in Lucknow with Varanasi in the east and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region, offering broadcast-grade options across the entire territory of Uttar Pradesh.
Green Park Retains Top Billing for Test Cricket
Despite the proliferation of newer sporting venues, the historic significance of Green Park in Kanpur will remain undiminished. UPCA has reaffirmed that the iconic venue will continue to receive primary preference for traditional Test match cricket. Addressing structural upgrades, UPCA President Nidhipat Singhania highlighted that an extensive modernization drive is underway to revamp the ground. Key operational hurdles, including drainage efficiency, floodlight calibration, and spectator capacity limitations, are being systematically resolved. The Uttar Pradesh state government is providing full institutional assistance to UPCA to facilitate this transformation, ensuring that Green Park balances its legendary heritage with contemporary international hosting standards.
CSJMU Ground Emerges as Alternate Venue in Kanpur
Kanpur is also positioned to gain an additional cricket venue option within city limits. Matches could soon be staged at the newly constructed stadium located on the Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University campus. Shukla clarified that UPCA's longstanding lease with Kamla Club has formally expired, prompting the association to look at university infrastructure. A formal proposal has already been submitted to the CSJMU university administration to utilize the campus stadium for organized cricket. This move guarantees that local players and domestic teams will secure supplemental ground availability for net sessions, rigorous training, and domestic calendar matches.
Dr. Sanjay Kapoor Reappointed UP T20 League Chairman
The 21st AGM also finalized crucial governance decisions surrounding the state's flagship domestic tournament, the UP T20 League. Dr. Sanjay Kapoor was reappointed as the chairman of the UP T20 League, ensuring leadership continuity for the franchise competition. Furthermore, Sanjeev Kumar Singh was inducted as an official member of the tournament governing council. The association also ratified its annual budget alongside several strategic operational resolutions. By combining the Test legacy of Kanpur, the white-ball pedigree of Lucknow, and the emerging horizons in Varanasi and Ghaziabad, UPCA is assembling a multi-city grid that grants grassroots talent abundant competitive game time right at home.
