UPT20 league inaugural season to be held from Aug 30 to Sep 16; team owners, price, cities

Lucknow, Aug 17: Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is all set to launch the inaugural season of the highly anticipated UPT20 cricket league, which commences August 30.

The T20 tournament will conclude with the final on September 16 and promises to be a game-changer in the state. It will act as a platform for the local cricketers to showcase and hone their T20 skills This dynamic T20 league will ignite passion among enthusiasts and usher in a new era of excitement in the state.

UPT20 League Venue

Perfect-Pitch Events & Sports Private Limited will oversee its management while all matches will take place at Kanpur's renowned Green Park Stadium. UPT20 guarantees an exhilarating journey for fans and a significant boost to the cricketing culture in Uttar Pradesh.

Beyond captivating spectators with electrifying matches, the UPT20 will play a pivotal role in nurturing budding talents and raising the overall standard of cricket within the state. By combining sportsmanship and entertainment seamlessly, this tournament aims to leave behind a lasting legacy that contributes to the growth and development of the game for years to come.

UPT20 Host Cities

Six vibrant teams representing different cities - Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, and Noida - will compete fiercely throughout this action-packed T20 series. Spanning over 18 days of intense competition on edge-of-your-seat matches culminating in an unforgettable grand finale.

The franchise auction took place on August 16 at Hotel Hyatt Regency in Lucknow under expert panellists including Shri D.S. Chauhan (Chairperson, Governing Council UP T20 League), Shri Arvind Srivastava (Honorary Secretary UPCA & Member Governing Council), Shri Prem Manohar Gupta (Honorary Treasurer & Member Governing Council), Ankit Chatterjee (CEO, UPCA, and Member Governing Council), along with Retd. Justice Shri Rakesh Sharma (Allahabad High Court). These esteemed individuals facilitated the ownership of franchises in the UP T20 League.

Applicants presented their experience, ideas, and vision for supporting cricketing activities aligned with the objectives of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. Qualified bidders were then invited to submit financial bids for the city they believed would best promote the game of cricket.

UP T20 League Team Owners and Price

Successful bidders secured rights for a period of five years for six cities as outlined below:

- VCORP Flavours Private Limited acquired Kanpur Team for an impressive INR 7.2 Crores per year.

- The Joint Venture between Ekana Sportz City Private Limited and G.C. Construction & Development Industries Private Limited won ownership of Lucknow Team with a hefty bid of INR 6 Crores per year.

- The Joint Venture by Yan Transport Services Private Limited claimed Varanasi Team at INR 6.5 Crores per year.

- Samavisht Energy Solutions Private Limited became proud owners of the Noida Team after spending INR 6 Crores per year.

- The Joint Venture between Team Aviation India Private Limited secured Meerut Team at INR 5.5 Crores per year.

- Finally, Gaursons India Private Limited & Gaursons Realtech Private Limited jointly purchased Gorakhpur Team at INR 6 Crores per year.

The organising committee, in collaboration with cricketing experts and stakeholders, meticulously crafted the UPT20 to serve as a breeding ground for emerging talents while offering established players a unique platform to showcase their skills. Through this league, Uttar Pradesh aims to make a significant contribution to the growth and development of cricket, both locally and globally.