LUCKNOW, June 28 -- Much was expected when Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association launched the UPTwenty20 League in 2023 with the sole objective to spot talent, which could help Uttar Pradesh win white ball domestic events like Syed Musthaq Ali Twenty20 Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. The event also allowed the scouts of all 10 franchises of the cash-rich Indian Premier League to pick talent for their respective teams, and the UPT20 League served this purpose well as many from Uttar Pradesh made it to the different teams and did well in the last two seasons. But now it seems unlikely in the next season due to fewer opportunities to Uttar Pradesh players in their own league, as the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has allowed nine cricketers from Railways to participate in the UPT20 League, despite knowing that though they may perform well in the local league, cricketers from Railways are not going to be of any benefit to the Uttar Pradesh teams in the next domestic season. The participation of Railways cricketers in the UPT20 League, which is expected to be played this August-September, will help only them grow as they will have a chance to be picked up by different IPL franchises, and play for the Railways in white ball events in the domestic cricket, but not for Uttar Pradesh. "The UPT20L has lost its motive as well as credibility too, as now it's not going to benefit Uttar Pradesh cricketers as there would be 9-12 players from Railways, who will make much out of this," a senior Ranji Trophy cricketer said on conditions of anonymity. "All the Railways players will represent their own team in white ball matches in domestic cricket and will even play against Uttar Pradesh and beat them. I don't understand under what circumstances and pressure the UPCA has taken such an absurd decision which is only harming our own cricketers," he added. The other school of thought in Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association feels that the inclusion of Railways cricketers in the UPT20L brings in the glamour factor as a few top cricketers, including former Team India cricketer and IPL star Piyush Chawla retired from all forms of cricket. Also, a regular face of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Nitish Rana, left Uttar Pradesh cricket even before the mini auction. "Though we have many IPL stars like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal and Vipraj Nigam etc, the UPT20L is missing star power," said a UPCA insider. "Even the franchises were missing the glamour part of the event," he added. A young cricketer, who even after playing two seasons of the UPT20L missed out in the mini auction this time, sounded upset. "I am feeling cheated and disappointed for missing the opportunity to play in the UPT20L this time as franchises preferred Railways cricketers ahead of cricketers like me. It's a financial loss to me as well as many cricketers like me too," he said. "Even though these Railways cricketers are from Uttar Pradesh, they aren't loyal to state cricket. If this had been the case, they would have played for Uttar Pradesh first instead of playing for the Railways," he said, adding, "For me they are just outsiders, and it's UPCA which is ruining our careers." UPT20L governing council chairman, Devendra Singh Chauhan, clarified earlier that not all Railways cricketers were allowed to participate in the mini auction recently, but only those with a domicile of Uttar Pradesh, got a chance to go under the hammer. "Cricketers from Railways having a domicile of Uttar Pradesh are allowed in the mini auction and their inclusion will make the event more exciting as competition is going to be tough this time," Chauhan had said recently. UPCA secretary Arvind Kumar Srivastava too had supported the move to include Railways cricketers in the UPT20L. "This will make the event more competitive and they too are from Uttar Pradesh," Srivastava had said....