Lucknow, 27 July (H.S.):

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has lauded the UP T20 League and the UPCA Speed Hunt initiative, saying that the tournament has provided young cricketers from Uttar Pradesh with a significant platform to showcase their talent and progress in the sport.

He said that through the Speed Hunt programme, fast bowlers from across the state were identified, with 38 pacers who consistently bowled at speeds above 134 kmph making it to the UP T20 League auction this year.

The fourth season of the UP T20 League will begin on August 14, with the opening match set to be played between Kashi Rudras and Meerut Mavericks.

In an official statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) on Monday, Rajeev Shukla said the impact of the first three seasons of the UP T20 League is now clearly visible. He informed that 18 players from Uttar Pradesh participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, and several of them gained recognition after impressive performances in the UP T20 League.

He added that IPL franchise scouts are continuously monitoring the league, making it an important platform for young players aspiring to reach the national level.

Highlighting the success of the UPCA Speed Hunt initiative, Shukla said the programme has helped identify talented fast bowlers from every corner of the state. He suggested that each franchise should include at least one uncapped player selected through Speed Hunt in their squad.

Speaking about the future expansion of the league, Rajeev Shukla said that the six-team tournament has currently established itself successfully. If the Governing Council recommends increasing the number of teams in the future, the Apex Council will seriously consider the proposal. He said the priority has been to first build a strong and sustainable league.

He further stated that taking cricket to more cities across Uttar Pradesh is one of UPCA’s key objectives. Keeping this vision in mind, the player auction was held in Agra this year. He expressed confidence that the move would help strengthen the city’s cricket infrastructure. He added that as better cricket facilities are developed across the state, possibilities for expanding the league will also be explored.

The opening ceremony and initial matches of the fourth edition of the UP T20 League will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The tournament will later move to Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, where the remaining league matches, along with the playoffs and final, will be conducted.

Qualifier-1 and the Eliminator matches will be played on September 3, Qualifier-2 on September 4, while the final and closing ceremony will take place in Kanpur on September 6.

The 24-day tournament will feature a total of 34 matches, including 13 double-header games and eight single-header matches. The event will witness the best cricketers from Uttar Pradesh competing for the coveted title.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar