The Uttar Pradesh Government has rechristened the Ekana International Cricket Stadium as "Bharat Ratan Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium" on Monday (November 5) ahead of the first-ever international cricket match here in the state capital –Lucknow on November 6.

The stadium has been named in the memory of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which will witness the first ever International match against the West Indies –the second T20I on Tuesday.

The UP Governor Ram Naik has approved the government’s proposal while Principal Secretary (Housing) Nitin Ramesh Gokaran has issued the orders for the change of stadium’s name.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) have informed that they have made an agreement regarding the same under clause 17.5.1 with Ekana Sports City Private Ltd, GC Constructions and Development Industries Pvt Ltd. The LDA further went on to reveal that the stadium will be named Vajpayee Stadium after the project is completed.

On the other hand, Indian cricket team and West Indies both teams arrived in Lucknow on Monday with a rousing welcome, while the cricket mania has completely overtaken the Diwali festivities in the city, as the online tickets have been sold out for the T20I encounter here.

From ministers to bureaucrats, and police officials are expected to make their presence felt at the stadium for the second T20I between India and West Indies.

(With IANS Inputs)