Around 250 young cricketers and their parents staged a protest at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, demanding that Uttar Pradesh get three Ranji Trophy teams instead of one.
The protest was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Players Association and the Cricket Association of Purvanchal. The participants argued that Uttar Pradesh’s large population and geographical spread make it difficult for a single state team to provide enough opportunities to emerging cricketers.
The protesters are seeking three separate cricket associations in Uttar Pradesh, each with its own Ranji Trophy team. Arvind Singh, president of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Players Association, said the state’s population of around 25 crore justified the demand.
The association also raised concerns about player representation in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League. Singh claimed that only 16 of around 150 players in the six-team competition are from Purvanchal and central Uttar Pradesh. In contrast, 89 players reportedly come from nine districts in western Uttar Pradesh, while eight are from Delhi.
The protesters believe this imbalance highlights the need for a broader domestic cricket structure that can create more opportunities for players from different regions.
The association is now planning a larger agitation in September. It has urged young cricketers across the state to participate and push for three cricket associations and three Ranji Trophy teams.
For the protesting players and their families, the demand is ultimately about creating a clearer pathway to first-class cricket and ensuring that talent from across Uttar Pradesh gets a fair opportunity.
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