Click to play videoKanpur: In the last few years, Uttar Pradesh has produced quite a few international cricketers. But when it comes to hosting the country's most popular game, politics was a major hurdle. But all that is set to change now.
UP's former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav just did not like cricket, often describing it a legacy of the British. In Mulayam's four-year regime, the state's cricket was mired in controversies. The government even refused to allot the stadium to host international matches. In fact, the India-Pakistan match in April 2005 scheduled to be held in Kanpur was be shifted to Ahmedabad.
Prem Dhar Pahak, Jt. Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, says: "Pichle baar stadium nahin, shasan se struggle chal raha tha. Hope everything will be okay (Govt did not give us the stadium. There was struggle with the government)."
But ever since Mayawati came back to power, things have turned around. Her cabinet scrapped the controversial Sports Act 2005 enacted during Mulayam's regime.
"Act vapas ke liya. Ab koi interference nahin hai (Here will be no problems from now on and we will get to see a good match)," Pahak adds.
Now the Green Park will host an India-Pakistan one-dayer in November and, already, smiles are back on the faces of cricket lovers.
Local coach Shiv kumar says, "It's been two years since a game here. We are hoping for some good cricket this time around."
Cricketer Rizwan adds, "The biggest advantage for us is that we will be able to practice with international cricketers."
Cricket may be the most popular game in India. But on the flipside, the game has always been mired in controversies.
The Mulayams might hate cricket or the Mayawatis might promote it, but the best thing our politicians can do for the game is to just leave it alone.
(With inputs from Abhishek Patni in Lucknow)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
