UPT20 League Fourth Season Begins With Plans to Expand to Varanasi and Gorakhpur
The fourth season of the UPT20 League has officially commenced at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, drawing thousands of spectators along with state leaders and cricket administrators. Alongside the ongoing matches, tournament officials detailed future growth plans that could take the state league to Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
What Happened
The opening ceremony of the fourth UPT20 League season took place in Lucknow in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and League Chairman Sanjay Kapoor. Matches for the ongoing edition are organized across two venues: Lucknow from August 14 to 26, followed by Kanpur from August 28 onwards, concluding with the final and closing ceremony on September 6 in Kanpur.
During the event, Kapoor revealed that the competition is preparing for geographic expansion in upcoming seasons. Future fixtures may be hosted in Varanasi and Gorakhpur, supported by emerging sports infrastructure in those cities.
Key Highlights
- Tournament Schedule: Lucknow hosts the opening leg from August 14 to 26, before action shifts to Kanpur on August 28, where the final takes place on September 6.
- Six Participating Teams: The competition features six squads competing across the two designated venues.
- Grassroots Scouting Success: The league’s zero-fee ‘Speed Hunt’ initiative identified rural cricketers with limited resources, resulting in direct and transparent team selections.
- Player Auctions: Speed Hunt discoveries were successfully picked up by all six league franchises, securing bids in lakhs during the player auction.
- Stadium Developments: A new international-standard stadium is nearing completion in Varanasi, while the foundation stone has been laid for an international cricket facility in Gorakhpur.
Why This Matters
According to league officials, the tournament is intended to serve as a broad development platform for cricketing talent across Uttar Pradesh. The introduction of the Speed Hunt scouting program facilitated direct access for rural players without charging entry or trial fees, resulting in players securing professional contracts with all six competing squads. Expanding into Varanasi and Gorakhpur is planned to align with ongoing regional stadium projects, widening local access to top-tier state cricket.
What to Watch Next
The immediate focus remains on the current schedule as Lucknow stages matches through August 26, followed by the Kanpur leg starting August 28 and the final on September 6. Beyond the current tournament, future announcements are expected regarding venue readiness as Varanasi’s new international stadium approaches completion and Gorakhpur advances its stadium project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the fourth season UPT20 League matches taking place?
Matches are split between two cities: Lucknow hosts games from August 14 to 26, and Kanpur hosts the remaining fixtures from August 28 until the final on September 6.
Which new cities are being considered for future UPT20 League matches?
League Chairman Sanjay Kapoor stated that matches could be staged in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities across the state in future seasons.
What is the Speed Hunt initiative?
Speed Hunt is a grassroots talent discovery program that allowed cricketers from rural regions to be evaluated directly and transparently without paying any selection fees, earning them spots across all six league franchises.
Source: CricTracker via IANS