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Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow: In this season of IPL, if one pitch is being discussed the most, then it is the pitch of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The reason for being in the discussion is that the batsmen are also seen yearning to score one run each on this pitch. In the last two matches held at this ground, the target of 127 and 136 could not be achieved. Something similar was also seen here in the T20 match against New Zealand in January this year, after which this pitch was renovated.
In the T20 International match held on 29 January 2023, the New Zealand team was able to score only 99 runs on this pitch, in response, the Indian team was also able to win in the last over. After this match, BCCI immediately renovated this pitch. Looking at the IPL, it was prepared in a hurry but the mood of the pitch did not change and now even a score of 125 is proving to be a match-winner.
This year there is also ODI World Cup in India and this stadium of Lucknow is also going to host some matches. In such a situation, BCCI can now do the work of preparing this pitch afresh. It is possible that this work should be started right after the IPL.
‘Vomiting in a hurry’
A BCCI source has told TOI, ‘BCCI had sent a panel of pitch curators to Lucknow. He repaired the pitch there in a limited time and decided to grow grass but it backfired. The pitch could not be fully prepared.
‘UPCA spent money but…’
The source said, ‘The BCCI curators had told the UPCA that the pitch would have to be renovated. For this, the contract was given to the contractor in the first week of February itself. After chopping the grass, it takes about 6 weeks for the pitch to settle. But during this the pitch has to be well monitored and maintained. UPCA spent a lot of money on this, but as soon as the contract was given to someone else, no one paid attention to this pitch. This was the reason that the pitch could not be fixed.
‘Pitch will have to be prepared afresh’
The source further said, ‘Lucknow has also been selected to host the World Cup matches to be held in October-November. Perhaps this would have forced the BCCI to renovate the Lucknow pitch as soon as possible. But now after the IPL, this wicket will have to be prepared afresh in the off-season.
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