UP's Poor Run This Domestic Season Ends With Defeat

Finally, it was the end of the road for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic cricket this season as Rinku Singh-led side failed to qualify for the knockouts of the season ending Vijay Hazare Trophy after facing a humiliating eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Vidarbha at Vizianagaram on Friday.

- Sharad Deep

LUCKNOW:

After missing the knockout race in the season opener Ranji Trophy, former champions lost in the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Trophy last month and on Friday they also went out of the race of the Vijay Hazare Trophy event after posting 300 plus runs, their best this season so far. They finished with 14 points in six league matches in Group D.

Uttar Pradesh's consecutive failures in all three formats of the events this season also bring the curtains down for the former India bowling all-rounder Sunil Joshi as chief coach of the side. For yet another pathetic finishes, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association's men's cricket in charge Yudhveer Singh, advisor and former Test cricketer Gopal Sharma, selection committee chief Praveen Kumar and newly appointed men's cricket in-charge Gyanendra Pandey should own the blame.