U P Ranji team honoured by state government

Lucknow, Nov 21 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh cricket team, which won the coveted Ranji Trophy for the first time in its 72-year history, was today hounoured by the Uttar Pradesh government.

UP Sports Minister R K Chowdhary honoured the team at the K D Singh Babu stadium here.

Mohd Kaif who had led the team and Suresh Raina were absent at the felicitation function which was attended among other players by present UP skipper Jyoti Yadav, team India speedster R P Singh and young spin prodigy Piyush Chawla. Kaif and Raina are in south Africa on national duty.

While 12 players were given Rs one lakh as cash prize and a citation in recognition of their achievement, four players representing Team India-- Mohd Kaif, R P Singh, Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla were awarded with Rs five lakhs in cash.

In his address, the minister said the government was trying to stop migration of state players to other states for the sake of job.

He asked the UP Education Department to make sports compulsory from primary level.

He said the government was committed to enhance sports infrastructure in the state.

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