Following in the footsteps of protesting students, a large group of young cricket players has taken to the streets. More than 250 aspiring cricketers, accompanied by their parents, gathered outside the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow to stage a demonstration. Their core demand centers around the creation of three distinct Ranji cricket teams for the state of Uttar Pradesh rather than a single unified squad.
Neglect of Players from Eastern and Central Regions
Organized under the joint banner of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Player Association and the Cricket Association of Purvanchal, the protest saw active participation from families hailing from central and eastern districts. The demonstrators argued that budding talents from these specific regions face systemic neglect. To bridge this gap and provide equitable opportunities, they insist that the state must divide its cricketing structure into three separate Ranji entities.
Reference to Previous Statements by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
Arvind Singh, the state president of the Cricket Player Association who led the agitation, addressed the media during the event. He pointed out that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had previously expressed support for having multiple Ranji teams in a massive state like Uttar Pradesh to ensure that every deserving athlete receives a fair shot at success.
Population of Twenty-Five Crore Demands Better Infrastructure
Highlighting the sheer scale of the region, the association emphasized that a territory housing a population of nearly 25 crore people requires a broader competitive framework. This demographic reality served as the primary motivation for the 250 young players and their guardians to voice their concerns outside the prominent Lucknow stadium.
Allegations of Regional Disparity in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League
The organizers also raised serious concerns regarding selection biases in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League. Singh claimed that players from Purvanchal and central districts are consistently sidelined. According to his figures, out of roughly 150 players across six teams in the current tournament edition, only 16 belong to the eastern and central parts. In stark contrast, 89 players hail from nine districts of western Uttar Pradesh, while eight come from Delhi.
Precedent Set by Maharashtra and Gujarat
To back their demands, the protestors pointed out existing models within the national domestic circuit. Under current Ranji Trophy regulations, states like Maharashtra and Gujarat field three teams each. While Maharashtra accommodates independent regional units like Mumbai and Vidarbha, Gujarat features separate squads representing Gujarat, Baroda, and Saurashtra. The protestors argue that Uttar Pradesh warrants a similar multi-team structure.
