Lucknow’s Ekana International stadium is all set for the first real examination after successfully hosting domestic tournaments like Duleep and Ranji Trophy. The newly build stadium may host world’s most successful cricket league termed IPL. This will be confirmed after an inspection by International Management Group(IMG) who are expected to visit the stadium in first week of February.
BCCI’s senior officers have allready praised the facilities of the stadium, when it hosted the domestic matches earlier. Considering the same, things almost look confirm for Ekana International stadium hosting the IPL matches. Lucknowites have never seen such high profile cricket matches in the city before, and their wish might just get fulfilled this year.
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IPL’s commissioner Rajeev Shukla visited the stadium on Friday. He spent almost 1.5 hrs in the stadium and inspected the facilities. He confirmed the news of IMG visiting the stadium in first week of February to stadium’s management.
Stadiums managing director Uday Sinha said that they are very excited about hosting an IPL match. The venue has hosted some domestic matches and has got praised for the good facilities by everyone. Stadium’s management is really hopeful of some good news.
“We are still not aware about the matches which may be hosted at the venue. For now, we are eagerly waiting for the arrival of IMG’s team, who will confirm if the stadium is eligible for IPL matches or not,” Sinha added.
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Kanpur’s Green Park may host the matches of Punjab or Rajasthan
Kanpur’s iconic Green Park stadium is hopeful of hosting Punjab’s or Rajasthan’s matches in IPL season 11. These two franchise teams have still not finalize their venue. Delhi Daredevils have shown their interest in Lucknow’s Ekana International stadium. The venue for every match will be confirmed by the end of this month.
Rajeev Shukla visited Green Park stadium to watch Cooch Behar Trophy clash between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
“Out of all the eight franchise, six have allready confirmed their home ground. However, Rajasthan and Punjab are yet to decide on their home ground. Delhi are more interested in Lucknow’s Ekana stadium,” Rajeev Shukla said in a press conference.
“The franchises will finalize their home ground on 22nd January and player auction will be held at the end of this month. The franchise owners allready have the list of all the probable stadium, they only decide on their home ground. Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi have allready confirmed their home ground for the upcoming season. Lucknow’s Ekana stadium is not completely ready. We gave the alternative of Kanpur’s Green Park and Lucknow’s Ekana International stadium to Delhi Daredevils. They showed their interest in Lucknow based stadium. However it is necessary that the stadium gets ready till March. It does have more seating capacity than Green Park,” he added.
Update 20th March: None of the IPL matches will be hosted in Lucknow or Kanpur this year.
