Gen Z Cricketers Protest at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium for 3 Ranji Teams

Around 250 young cricketers and their parents staged a protest at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday. The protesters are demanding that Uttar Pradesh have three Ranji Trophy teams instead of the current single team.

The demonstration was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Players Association and the Cricket Association of Purvanchal. Most of the protesters came from Purvanchal and central Uttar Pradesh and raised concerns about limited opportunities for young players to progress into first-class cricket.

Why Are Gen Z Cricketers Protesting?

The protesters believe that Uttar Pradesh’s huge population and geographical size make it difficult for a single Ranji Trophy team to provide adequate opportunities to aspiring cricketers from every region.

Uttar Pradesh has a population of around 25 crore, and the associations involved in the protest argue that the state should therefore have three cricket associations and three separate Ranji Trophy teams.

The demand is aimed at creating more pathways for talented players who currently face intense competition for limited places in the state setup.

Protesters Demand Three Ranji Trophy Teams

Arvind Singh, president of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Players Association, said that the state’s population justifies having more than one Ranji Trophy team.

According to Singh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had previously spoken in favour of more than one Ranji team for such a large state.

The protesters want three separate cricket associations to be created across Uttar Pradesh, with each association fielding its own Ranji Trophy side.

Regional Imbalance in Uttar Pradesh T20 League Also Raised

The associations also highlighted what they described as regional imbalance in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League.

According to Singh, around 150 players are part of the six teams competing in the tournament this season. Of those players, only 16 are from Purvanchal and central Uttar Pradesh.

Singh claimed that 89 players come from nine districts in western Uttar Pradesh, while another eight players are from Delhi.

The figures have added to concerns among young cricketers from eastern and central parts of the state about their representation in the domestic cricket structure.

Major Agitation Planned for September

The protesters are planning to intensify their campaign in September. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Players Association has appealed to Gen Z cricketers from across the state to participate in a larger agitation.

The objective is to push for the creation of three separate cricket associations that could field independent Ranji Trophy teams.

What Could Three Ranji Teams Mean for Uttar Pradesh?

If the demand is accepted, three Ranji Trophy teams could potentially create additional opportunities for players from different regions of Uttar Pradesh to compete at the first-class level.

The protesters believe that a larger domestic structure would give more young cricketers a chance to showcase their skills and compete for higher honours.

However, creating additional Ranji Trophy teams would require changes to the existing domestic cricket structure and approval from the relevant cricket authorities.

Young Players Seek Better Pathway to First-Class Cricket

The Lucknow protest reflects growing frustration among young cricketers who believe that the current system does not provide enough opportunities for players from all parts of Uttar Pradesh.

With the campaign expected to intensify in September, the demand for three Ranji Trophy teams could become an important issue in the state’s domestic cricket administration.