Click to play videoNew Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati apparently wants Rs 1 crore as rent for hosting the India-England one-day match at Kanpur, but Congressman Rajiv Shukla, who is a top official of the state cricket association, isn’t amused.
On November 20, India and England will have a face-off in the Green Park stadium in Kanpur. But even ahead of that battle, war cries are already being heard and it has more to do with politics than cricket.
The UP government has asked the state cricket association to pay Rs 1 crore as rent for the stadium to host the match.
“I have been ordered by the government to levy Rs 50 lakh as test fee and Rs 1 crore as one day fee,” a state government official said.
Meanwhile, the UPCA, whose vice chairman is the Congress MP Rajiv Shukla, is crying foul. UPCA said only Rs 9 lakh was levied as rent for the last match hosted there, which was the India-South Africa test in April – roughly 10 times less than what’s being demanded now.
“Last time also the UP Sports Ministry had asked for a similar amount but the matter was settled after the intervention of the CM’s office. We are sure we will find a solution this time also,” Shukla said.
The BSP government though, is sticking to its decision. “We have raised the fee amount in the best interest of the game and players,” UP Sports Minister Ayodhya Pal said.
But it seems that larger political interests are ruling the decisions ahead of General elections. After the battle in Rae Bareilly, the BSP and Congress seem set for a covert war in Kanpur.
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