LUCKNOW, July 9 -- If domestic giants Mumbai could win the prestigious Ranji Trophy for a record 42 times in the last 90 years, then a lot of it must be due to the good planning of Mumbai Cricket Association. However, the advantage of playing at home ground every season is also key to their streak. Playing four matches on home turf every season makes a significant difference and helps the side to qualify for the knockouts. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, which often misses this advantage for its inconsistent venues, struggles to make it to even the knockout stage. Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association gives the hosting rights of home matches to its district units, thus pushing the side back as the home side always plays on a new turf. In the last 10 seasons, Uttar Pradesh has played 28 matches, won just two, lost five and drawn 21. These matches were played at seven venues in the state. Out of 10 matches at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, UP could win just one, and the result of nine others ended in a draw. The side conceded its first innings lead in four matches, whereas one match remained unfinished. Uttar Pradesh's worst home track record is at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, where they conceded their lead in six out of 11 matches. It won and lost one match each, besides drawing six matches. At Meerut's Victoria Park Ground, Uttar Pradesh has never won. There, the team has played three matches. In Ghaziabad, UP lost the only match they played at the Nehru Stadium. UP's three other matches-one each at Lucknow's Sports Galaxy Ground, TMU Moradabad and Greater Noida-also ended in tame draws. "Mumbai are 42-time champions as they plan their home matches and play mostly at Wankhede. They know the conditions well and the venue suits their game plan," said former UP skipper Rizwan Shamshad on Tuesday. "In fact, we don't have a policy for home games. We need to pick a certain ground and get it prepared according to our bowling strength as in the longer version of the game, your bowling makes all the difference in the end," he said, adding, "the selection of the venue and the pitch should be a call of both captain and coach." "Unlike Mumbai and Karnataka, which have team plans according to the availability of the players, UP just keep playing matches as per the schedule," said Shamshad, who was one of the key batting stars of UP Cricket in the past. "Making use of the home advantage isn't a big thing but for that we need to plan it well. For the last two years, we have been quite poor at it," he added. Former Test cricketer and ex-UP captain Gopal Sharma too advocated for a good use of the home advantage. "Home advantage is very important in domestic cricket, especially in the Ranji. If you make proper use of this home advantage, it remains helpful for the side to make it to the knockouts quite easily," said Sharma. He also said that even during his playing days, UPCA used to conduct matches mostly at Agra and other places. "We hardly used to play at the Green Park Stadium. I feel that UPCA needs to identify a home ground and prepare it well," said Sharma, who's also the vice-president of UPCA. However, one of the key functionaries of the UPCA said that distribution of matches like 'lollipops' to different district units remains a sincere part of UPCA's politics as it helps garner votes. "UPCA never bothered about the genuine need of the game, but kept luring its member units across the state by giving them hosting rights of the domestic matches," said a UPCA insider on condition of anonymity. "We don't have cricketing people in the UPCA. It's run by professionals who have nothing to do with the game. Now, the time has come when UPCA should handle the affairs more seriously, and introduce a certain plan to make the best use of the home advantage," he added....