Green Park Stadium - Renovation

Renovation

Infrastructure

The renovation plans for the city's Green Park Stadium got a boost with the state government sanctioning 16 crore rupees for the purpose.The government has already released Rs 10 crore and work has started for the refurbishment of the cricket stadium.

"The work of modernisation of the stadium is going at full swing and soon the remaining six crore rupees will be given to the authorities," new Kanpur district magistrate Hari Om told reporters.

BCCI pitch committee member Anand Shukla visited the Green Park stadium today and expressed his satisfaction over the condition of the track where a one-day international cricket match between India and Pakistan would be played on April 15. Kanpur Division commissioner Anita Bhatnagar Jain had also visited the stadium on Monday and instructed the officials of Green Park to complete all repair works of public and students galleries by March 24. The Commissioner said besides the close circuit cameras at various enclosures, videography would also be arranged to prevent any untoward incident during the match. Police administration has also geared up the activities and the entire stadium has been divided into 19 zones, she said adding that there would be separate entrances for the cricket teams and the VVIPs and officials.After an abortive attempt to damage the Green Park stadium by a group of Shiv Sena activists last month, the district administration has deployed security staff on round the clock duty.

Tight security steps would be taken in and around the Green Park stadium. Besides, the Uttar Pradesh police para-military forces would also be deployed to maintain law and order situation.Dismissing the case against Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) filed by Sarvesh Kumar, a lawyer, the senior civil judge, Kanpur, on Monday said that there was no prima facie case made out hence it is being rejected. Sarvesh Kumar had filed a case against BCCI, through UPCA in April 2008 and had pleaded that UPCA be restrained from barricading the Green Park Stadium when there was any international event as he and other lawyers and citizens face inconvenience.

Matches

With Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association chief Rajiv Shukla taking over as IPL chairman, UPCA officials and players are hoping that the state will get to stage matches of the Twenty20 league and also take part in the tournament in near future.

Former India middle-order batsman Mohd Kaif said that with Shukla becoming the IPL chief cricket fans of Uttar Pradesh can hope to watch IPL matches live sitting inside a stadium in the state.

"In the years to come, we can also expect a team from Uttar Pradesh taking part in the IPL," Kaif said from Bangalore where he is with the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for the Champions League Twenty20.

"He (Shukla) has been doing a lot for Uttar Pradesh cricket and for the players from the state. So his elevation to the post of IPL chief is a good thing for Uttar Pradesh and the level of cricket in the state will also rise," he said.

UPCA joint secretary Shoaib Ahmed hoped that in near future the state will get to host one or two IPL matches.

"With Shukla becoming the IPL chief, I hope we get the chance to host one or two IPL matches in Uttar Pradesh. I hope the players will also get benefits," he said.

UPCA Cricket Academy chief coach Rohit Talwar congratulated Shukla on becoming the IPL chief and said the state can look forward to hosting IPL matches.