Vijay Hazare Trophy | Shortage of hotel rooms see Knockout phase move out of Lucknow

The Ekana International Cricket Stadium was scheduled to host the knockout phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy from February 21-26. ‘UP Investors Summit-2018’ is scheduled to take place in Lucknow from February 21-22 which has caused due to the shortage of rooms during that time which would see the matches move out of the city. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has written to the Board of Control for Cricket India (BBCI), informing them about the issue.

“We have informed the BCCI about the crisis and even suggested pushing back the dates. If they agree, we will be conducting the event in Lucknow from February 26,” said UPCA secretary Yudhveer Singh, reported Indian Express.

“Nagpur is the best option if the BCCI continues to conduct the event as per schedule,” Hindustan Times quoted an official.

The knockout phase would mean that the eight teams along with the broadcasters would need at least 140 rooms for their accommodation in Lucknow. UPCA also found it difficult to arrange six hotels in Kanpur for the 250 players participating in the ongoing maiden edition of the BCCI Under-23 one-dayers.

“Even if we had a few hotels, we could have proposed to conduct the event at Lucknow and Kanpur at the same time, but rooms aren’t available in Kanpur too,” said a UPCA official.

This isn't the first time when UPCA has faced problems regarding booking of hotels as the  Mumbai Indians side had to stay back in Lucknow for a day due to an unavailability of hotel rooms in Kanpur due to the wedding season.