Ranji final likely on Mar 22 in New Delhi following controversy

Lucknow, Mar 20 (UNI) After a late night decision by the Uttar Pradesh government to scrap the allotment of K D Singh Babu Stadium for Ranji one-dayer finals tomorrow between UP and Railways, the summit clash is likely to be played on March 22 at New Delhi.

Even as no senior state government official was available for comment over the issue, the government today suspended the Regional Sports Officer (RSO) of Lucknow R P Singh along with an Additional Director of the Sports Department over the controversy.

State Sports Minister R K Choudhury told UNI here that he came to know about the cancellation of the venue for the Ranji finals through media.

''I have sought a clarification from the concerned officials to give reasons for the cancellation,'' he said, adding, that State Sports Secretary would be returning to the state capital this evening from Delhi, after which proper action would be taken.

Sources claimed that the RSO conveyed the cancellation of the stadium to the organisers -- UP Cricket Assocation (UPCA) -- last night on the directive of the ' higher ups' in the government.

Sources said the government decision was based on the ground that UPCA, being a defaulter of over Rs 20 lakhs, should not be given any state government stadium to hold matches.

Earlier, the state government had not allotted the Green Park stadium in Kanpur for holding India-South Africa one-day international, as the UPCA did not pay the government dues of over Rs 20 lakhs for using floodlights during India-Pakistan Test match.

Sources further said that the suspension of the RSO and another officer was ordered over how did they allot the stadium for the Ranji semi-final played yesterday when there was a standing order that UPCA would not be allotted any stadium till they clear the dues.

Meanwhile, UPCA general secretary Rajiv Shukla has asked the Cricket Association of Lucknow (CAL) to shift the Ranji finals out of the state, most probably to Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi.

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