The knockout matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled from February 21-26 at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, are set to be shifted from Lucknow due to a shortage of hotel rooms as the event clashes with the state government-sponsored ‘UP Investors Summit-2018’ on February 21-22.
The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has written to the Board of Control for Cricket India (BBCI), informing them about the issue. “We have informed the BCCI about the crisis and even suggested pushing back the dates. If they agree, we will be conducting the event in Lucknow from February 26,” said UPCA secretary Yudhveer Singh.
Nagpur could be a likely venue for the knockout matches. “Nagpur is the best option if the BCCI continues to conduct the event as per schedule,” said an official.
UPCA needs at least 140 rooms to adjust the eight teams and broadcasters but hotels are booked for the investors’ summit.
“Even if we had a few hotels, we could have proposed to conduct the event at Lucknow and Kanpur at the same time, but rooms aren’t available in Kanpur too,” said a UPCA official.
The shortage in Kanpur is in view of the marriage season and has made it difficult for the UPCA as it is conducting the knockout matches of the maiden edition of the Under-23 one-dayers. After much effort, UPCA arranged for six hotels to adjust 250 players. The event began on Sunday.
{{/usCountry}}The shortage in Kanpur is in view of the marriage season and has made it difficult for the UPCA as it is conducting the knockout matches of the maiden edition of the Under-23 one-dayers. After much effort, UPCA arranged for six hotels to adjust 250 players. The event began on Sunday.
{{/usCountry}}This isn’t the first time when shortage of rooms has posed problems for teams. Last season during the Indian Premier League matches in Kanpur, Mumbai Indians had to stay back in Lucknow for a day as no hotel was available due to the marriage season.
The group matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy begin on February 5 and all 25 teams will play till February 17 before eight quarterfinalists move to the city where the knockout matches will be scheduled.