LUCKNOW, June 12 -- The UPTwenty20 League, premier event of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, seems to be in troubled waters as a number of cricketers as well as support staff, have reportedly refused to represent a few franchises. These franchises have allegedly failed to clear pending dues. The third edition of the UPT20 League, which is due to be played in August-September on a hybrid model - with matches happening both at the Lucknow's Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium and at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium - is expected to hold players' auction here next week. "I have officially told my franchise that I'm not available for the side this season as I haven't been paid my dues, which was supposed to be cleared by them by March 31 this year," said a senior board trophy cricketer on condition of anonymity. "Even in the first edition of the event, which was held in Kanpur in 2023, I had to beg for my dues, and I could get that just before the start of the second edition, which was held in Lucknow," the cricketer said, adding, "I am also thinking to take legal action against the franchise as per my contract the money had to be paid to me within six months' time at the end of the event." "Ever since I decided to leave the franchise, I have been offered different lucrative things, including my own payment before the auction for the new season. I have checked with other team members too and they too haven't been paid their dues," he added. He also said that others in the team have also refused to play for the franchise due to this financial tangle. "I am not the only one who has decided to quit the team, but a few others in my team have also decided to quit. I don't have a job and I have to clear my own debts," he said. It is learnt that the UPT20 League is inspired by the cash-rich Indian Premier League and has been the only such event across the country where cricketers as well as support staff etc, are allegedly facing the problem of non-payment from the franchise. The six franchises in the UPT20 League are: Noida Kings, Gorakhpur Lions, Kanpur super Stars, Meerut Mavrick, Lucknow Falcons and Kashi Rudras and they are owned by some top construction and business houses of Uttar Pradesh. "Whenever I ask my franchise owner to clear my pending dues, they give me a fake reason for the delay in payment. Every coach was supposed to get Rs 6 lakh as his minimum wages for one season, but the money is still pending with the franchise," said a coach of a franchise, preferring anonymity. "I have also informed franchise owners that I am no longer a part of their team this season as there are others, who are good pay masters and have the habit of clearing the dues on time," he said, adding, "If nothing happens before the new season's auction, I will be letting this known to the top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India." However, chairman of the UPT20 League and former acting DG Police of Uttar Pradesh, DS Chauhan, on Wednesday, accepted that there were some problems in terms of payment to the players and the support staff with some franchises. "Yes, these are the issues which they are grappling with, and they are sorting it out. Ninety percent of the players and the coaching staff have already been paid," he said. "The Lucknow-based franchise didn't even pay their franchise fee for the first edition too and they cleared the money only 10 days ago. They are also supposed to pay the fee for the second edition by the 30th of this month," said Chauhan. He also said that the UT20L governing council keeps on reviewing these monetary aspects of every franchise on a regular basis. "These are the normal issues which arise in day-to-day functioning. There is not a single franchisee who doesn't intend to give the players and the coaching staff their dues. So, everyone pays and even if there is one or two, it will be done." Chauhan further said that the players as well as support staff needed to raise the bill for services rendered. "Even in the first edition of the event in 2023, everyone was asked to raise the bill, as the franchise also pays GST on their services. Suppose there is a batting coach, and he gets Rs 5 lakh then he has to raise the bill of the amount for the services provided as a batting coach." On being contacted, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association's secretary, Arvind Srivastava said that clearing the dues of cricketers or support staff is the responsibility of team owners, and they should do it on time. "It's not the UPCA's job to clear the dues of the cricketers and the support staff etc, but it's the responsibility of the franchises to do so," he said. He, however, promised that the UPCA will look into the issue soon. "For sure, UPCA will see what is wrong with the payment of dues of the cricketers etc," he added....