For Uttar Pradesh cricket, the Ranji Trophy triumph is possibly just the beginning for bigger things.The big plan for the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) now is starting under-13 tourneys, “like in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,” according to UPCA director Jyoti Bajpai. Also on the anvil is a stadium, the UPCA’s own, if the “Green Park is not available on lease.” Other schemes are bringing players under insurance cover and giving scholarships to more cricketers.Bajpai looks upbeat. “The victory will go a long way in making the nation even more aware of the potential the state. Till now only 25 per cent of the work has been done. We plan to work now on the remaining 75 per cent,” he said.“We organise tourneys only at the under-15 and under-17 levels, but from now on we plan to tap talent at the grassroots level and hold under-13 meets too.”Not only this. With national selectors paying a lot of attention to young talent, and with two youngsters Rudra Pratap Singh and Suresh Raina — besides experienced Mohamed Kaif — already in Team India, the UPCA is looking forward to concentrate on specialised training for the younger lot.In case the Central Zone Cricket Coaching Academy does not function in Kanpur this year, the UPCA plans organise its own camp for youngsters in Kanpur.The former BCCI treasurer also said that the body will “try to take the Green Park Stadium on lease, or else to build a stadium of its own. But the latter will take at least five years.”The scholarship scheme could be expanded. Currently, ten cricketers are getting a Rs 5,000 monthly scholarship from UPCA, including leggie Piyush Chawla, Avinash Yadav, Suresh Raina, Tahir Abbas, Aris Alam and India under-19 captain Ravi Kant Shukla.Prem Dhar Pathak, joint secretary sports and administration UPCA, said state selectors will go to various zones to tap talent. “We will be organising selection camps there. It will not be essential for the players to be officially registered in any academy or stadium for participation in the trials. Talent can reside anywhere. We will look everywhere for talent, especially for fast bowlers.”The Ranji triumph has also boosted the morale of young trainees. Under-15 captain Abhinav Dixit and Subodh Srivastav said that UP’s performance, especially the way Kaif bhai batted, has boosted their confidence level. They will now devote even more time to practising.Another trainee, Nishant Bhardwaj, said: “If our seniors can win the Ranji Trophy then we will also do our level best to do the state proud in our own age categories.”
