Just weeks after the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) announced Green Park Stadium as the host venue for the fourth edition of the UP T20 League, the tournament finds itself in the middle of an unexpected venue tug-of-war.
Kanpur was supposed to be preparing for another month of packed stands and evening matches under lights. Instead, discussions are now revolving around whether the league will stay at Green Park, move entirely to Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, or be split between the two cities.
Twist for UPT20 league
The latest twist arrived after Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi claimed on social media that matches which were reportedly being shifted to Lucknow would instead remain at Green Park. Calling it “good news” for the people of Kanpur, Awasthi thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and spoke about preserving the city’s rich sporting legacy.
His comments set off the debate all over again, and fans started wondering if the venue change had actually been reversed. But behind the scenes, nothing’s been decided yet. UPT20 Governing Council chairman Sanjay Kapoor has asked everyone to hold off on conclusions, saying talks are still on. Officials say the Sports Department, UPCA and league organisers have had several rounds of meetings in the last few days, and a final call hasn’t been made.
Weather issue a big one for UPCA
The issue comes down to Green Park’s infrastructure. The ground is still one of India’s most iconic venues, but UPCA officials aren’t sure it can handle a full franchise tournament in the monsoon. Floodlights, spectator facilities and drainage have all come up in internal talks. The drainage is the biggest red flag. Green Park has had waterlogging problems before, and with the tournament slated for August, rain delays are a real worry.
That’s why Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium has come into the picture. It’s got modern facilities, better drainage, stronger floodlights and a lot more seats. From a logistics point of view, it’s the safer option. Which is why the case for moving at least some games to the state capital has gained traction. But for now, no decision has been made. The final call should come after this round of meetings wraps up.
Meanwhile, the franchises are getting on with preparations. The schedule hasn’t been released yet. Gorakhpur Lions have already retained left-arm pacer Yash Dayal. He missed the entire IPL 2026 season and could make his comeback at the UPT20 league.
