UP caught napping as MP batters post 670/7

Last November, former champions Uttar Pradesh had paid the price for a 'selection blunder'.

- Sharad Deep

LUCKNOW: Last November, former champions Uttar Pradesh had paid the price for a 'selection blunder'. In their Group C league match against Kerala, which took place in the first leg of Ranji Trophy, the Sunil Joshi-coached side placed its bets on 'out-of-form' Piyush Chawla to do the trick. The move backfired as Uttar Pradesh lost the match by an innings and 117 runs in Tumba.

Chawla, who was among the 30-listed players for the domestic season, was committed to play only white-ball events. The ageing cricketer, however, left the side mid-way after remaining unsold in the auction of the cash-rich Indian Premier League. In his only Ranji Trophy game this season, Chawla could score 10 and one and took 1/59.

Chawla's recruitment in four-day game was a bad decision and criticised by all. However, as it happens in Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, the 'dictators' are allowed to commit more blunders. Now the mistakes are reflecting on the team's poor bowling performance in UP's last league match of the season against hosts Madhya Pradesh in Indore. Uttar Pradesh struggled even on Day Two of the four-day encounter on Friday.