The UP T20 League has relocated its playoff matches and final from Kanpur to Lucknow following continuous heavy rainfall in the city, the tournament’s governing council announced on Monday.
Sanjay Kapoor, Chairman of the UP T20 League Governing Council, officially confirmed the venue change at a press conference at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The knockout fixtures of the fourth season of the competition will now take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with the match dates retained as per the original schedule. The announcement was made in the presence of UPCA Media Committee Chairman Mohammad Faheem and UP T20 League Governing Council Member Sanjeev Kumar Singh, along with other senior regional cricket administrators. “This decision was not made in favour of or against any particular team, but strictly to uphold the fairness of the sport and the welfare of the players. At the same time, tournament management expressed its gratitude to local supporters, players, and match officials for their cooperation throughout the Kanpur leg of the competition.
“Due to the continuous rain in Kanpur, it has become nearly impossible to complete full matches, which directly impacts the game and the players’ ability to showcase their talent. A wet outfield due to persistent rain significantly increases the risk of injuries. Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will be played on September 3, with Qualifier 2 the next day and the title clash on September 6. In crucial and decisive encounters like the playoffs, it is essential that all participating teams get a fair and equal opportunity to play a complete 20-over match,” said Kapoor. Moving the final stages to Lucknow’s state-of-the-art facilities will provide an ideal environment for teams to compete in full 20-over contests without the risk of rain delays.
