In-principle nod to Azharuddin’s Lucknow cricket academy

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“Uttar Pradesh has given so many international and national level players but there is lack of a state-of-the-art facility to train them. There is a lot of potential in rural areas but many cannot reach their potential due to lack of proper training facilities in the state,” Azharuddin told The Indian Express on phone.

He added: “I came to know that state government is already in the process of setting up a sports city around Lucknow. Thus, I approached the chief minister with my proposal to establish a cricket academy. He has been very kind to give in-principal approval.”

Azharuddin further said that more talks will be held between his team and government officials before the project is given a final shape. “The idea is to give a better training platform to rural kids from Uttar Pradesh to excel in the field of cricket,” he added.

“The state government will welcome any proposal for investment. While the project has been given in-principal nod, its exact nature will be defined only after the final proposal is submitted from their end and is followed by discussions,” said Principal Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal.

The state government is developing an international cricket stadium and sports complex on 137 acres of land along the Amar Shaheed Path on Sultanpur Road at the outskirts of Lucknow.

The stadium is being built on a Public-Private-Partnership mode and has been given to developer Ekana Sports City Pvt Limited on a Built-Operate and Transfer basis. As per the contract, the developer will construct the stadium and other infrastructure on 71 acres and run and maintain it for 35 years.

The government has also proposed to develop a sports academy and residential complex as part of the project. Recently, the developer and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association had signed a MoU to hold cricket matches at this stadium.