By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Kanpur : The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has alleged harassment by the state government, stating that it has been asked to pay an unprecedented Rs.5 million as stadium rent for the Third test against South Africa that started here Friday.
“It was a highly unreasonable demand and there was no way UPCA could have acceded to it. Finally, we paid Rs.900,000 for this Test,” a UPCA official told IANS.
The government owns the Green Park Stadium here and UPCA hires it for matches.
“Last November, UPCA spent Rs.6.5 million on renovation before the One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan. Plus we paid the government Rs.300,000 as stadium rent. We also paid Rs.500,000 as the floodlights fee, which the government has still not returned as we did not use the facility,” he said.
The official added that although it was a day match, the floodlights fee was deposited because by that time the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) match guidelines had not reached UPCA and it was not clear if floodlights would be allowed in poor visibility conditions.
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Black haunts Kanpur police again
After the ban on black colour inside the Green Park Stadium for the ODI against Pakistan in November, the police have again prohibited the entry of people wearing any black clothing, including socks.
When a girl, apparently a Sourav Ganguly fan, tried to enter the stadium wearing black shirt Friday, the police told her to change it. However, they did not seem to have noticed a few journalists who came in black attire.
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Cricket trainees man scoreboards
Under the guidance of the Kanpur Cricket Association, local trainees will operate the two gigantic scoreboards during the third Test at the historic Green Park Stadium.
The boys have been selected from various cricket academies like that of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, Kanpur South Academy, Kamla Club Academy and the Green Park hostel. Dressed in spotless white flannels, they had a spring in their steps as they climbed up the scoreboards enthusiastically in the morning.
They will not be paid for the job. “We are told we will be given just lunch, no money,” said one.
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Formula One Force India at Green Park
India’s Force India Formula One team is making its presence felt at the Green Park Stadium. Four huge billboards of India’s first ever entry in Formula One racing have been put up inside the stadium. One of the billboards had the giant images of Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil and the other had the car they compete in. Whether any of the cricket fans recognised them is an open question.