TIL Desk Lucknow:
The fourth season of the UP T20 League was officially unveiled on Monday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The opening ceremony tickets were launched by the chief guest, Avanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The grand opening ceremony, scheduled for August 14 at the Ekana Stadium, will feature performances by renowned sitar maestro Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and popular singer Jasmine Sandlas. A spectacular drone show and fireworks display, described as a first-of-its-kind experience in Uttar Pradesh, will be among the major attractions. The event will be hosted by celebrated sports anchor Jatin Sapru.
A total of 4,000 tickets for the opening ceremony have been released at discounted prices. Tickets for the Upper Block are priced at ₹349, while the Lower Wing tickets cost ₹499. The tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can also be booked through the e-District app.
Addressing the gathering, Avanish Awasthi praised the UP T20 League and said that Uttar Pradesh continues to scale new heights in cricket as well as other sports. He noted that six teams will compete in this year’s edition, providing another significant platform for young cricketers from the state to showcase their talent.
Highlighting the Uttar Pradesh government’s commitment to sports development, Awasthi said sports infrastructure is expanding rapidly across the state. He announced that the historic Green Park Stadium in Kanpur will undergo renovation after the league concludes. He also stated that the new international cricket stadium in Varanasi will soon be dedicated to the state, while the foundation stone for an international cricket stadium in Gorakhpur has already been laid. According to him, Uttar Pradesh is set to witness the development of several world-class sports facilities in the coming years.
Awasthi also emphasized the promotion of women’s cricket and suggested launching a UP Women’s T20 League on the lines of the men’s competition, initially featuring at least four teams. He expressed his willingness to extend full support if a Kanpur franchise is included. Responding to the proposal, UP T20 League Governing Council Chairman Dr. Sanjay Kapoor assured that the suggestion would be considered seriously.
The chief guest also praised para-archer Sheetal Devi, recalling her remarkable journey and achievements. He said her courage and determination have inspired countless athletes, highlighting her success as a Paralympic bronze medallist and World Championship gold medallist, achieved despite shooting with her feet.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Sanjay Kapoor announced that, for the first time, the league will be held across two cities. The opening phase will take place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from August 14 to August 26, where 22 matches, including the opening ceremony, will be staged. The second phase will begin on August 28 at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, hosting 12 matches. The tournament will conclude with the grand final and closing ceremony in Kanpur on September 6.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prem Manohar Gupta, Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. Among those present were UPCA Treasurer Sachin Anand Shukla, Ekana Stadium CMD Uday Sinha, UPCA CEO Ankit Chatterjee, Media Manager Mohammad Faheem, Governing Council member Sanjeev Kumar Singh, and several other distinguished guests.
