Blame game begins over shifting of Gwalior ODI

A war of words has started between the UPCA and the state administration over shifting of the second India-South Africa ODI from here to Gwalior with the two factions blaming each other for the fiasco.

Sources said UPCA's unwillingness to pay Rs one crore as rent for holding the second One-dayer at the Green Park Stadium on February 24 and district administration's refusal to lower the amount led to the shifting of the match.

However, UPCA stated that the sudden shift has come about due to dilapidated state of a spectators gallery at the stadium mainly because of management's carefree attitude.

The allegation was countered by the Kanpur District Magistrate Anil Sagar who argued that Green Park had hosted a Test match between India and Sri Lanka only three months back and nothing major was to be done on the construction front.

About the renovation work in the stadium, he said that it would have been complete by February 20 and cannot be counted as a reason for the shift.

Sagar said the UPCA is giving lame excuses and all the preparations of the ODI had been completed in advance. Sagar said as per the given rules, the UP government charges Rs one crore for an ODI and Rs 50 lakh for a Test from UPCA and nothing new has been asked from the cricket association this time around.

The BCCI decided to shift the match from here to Gwalior without giving any clear reason.

A statement from Board Secretary N Srinivasan said, "The second One Day International between India and South Africa scheduled to be played at Kanpur on February 24 has now been shifted to Gwalior."

Sources said the UPCA had written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government two days ago threatening it with cancellation of the match if the rent amount was not lowered.

Interestingly, the disagreement between the association and the administration surfaces every time a match is allocated to Green Park.

Last time the Proteas played here, a Test in 2008, they lost on a pitch that came in for heavy criticism. Match referee Roshan Mahanama had written an adverse report to the ICC that later warned the BCCI.