LUCKNOW, Sept. 8 -- The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is considering plans to revamp the coaching structure of its various squads ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season. A decision to this effect will be made during the UPCA's annual general meeting, scheduled to be held in Kanpur on September 30. "UPCA always aims to avail the services of its former players in different ways as they help our teams grow in the right manner, but a final decision to have separate support staff for different teams will only be taken at the AGM," he said. "We won our only Ranji Trophy almost 20 years back and since then there is no significant change in our progress except for the side finishing runners-up twice. What we lack is a dedicated team of experts," a senior UPCA official said. "We have plenty of former cricketers who are capable of shaping our teams for a better show in all categories, including juniors," he said. "We will begin with our Ranji Trophy team as we need to improve our red-ball cricket culture under the guidance of an experienced coach." UPCA is looking to put in place a more decentralised setup where each team, be it the Ranji side, U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy side, Vijay Hazare squad, or the U-19 Cooch Behar unit will have their own dedicated head coach and support staff. Players and parents in the state have been demanding better infrastructure, more opportunities, and a restructured pathway for talent development. "Last season, only in the U-23 State A Trophy could we finish runners-up, under the guidance of Gyanendra Pandey. In the senior category we failed in all three formats. It's time our good coaches are given the responsibility of different teams," said the official, who did not wish to be named. Former UP pacer Ashish Winston Zaidi, who took 378 first-class wickets in his career, was involved with the off-season camp for mixed players. He is expected to be appointed the Ranji bowling coach. Rizwan Shamshad, a former middle-order batter with over 7,000 first-class runs, who has been with the Ranji team in the past, is likely to be entrusted with the U-23 setup. Among the lot, former Team India all-rounder and one of the most successful coaches of Ranji Trophy and U-23 sides, is also in the fray to take charge of a team, with reports suggesting he could oversee the Ranji Trophy team. Pandey's 500 plus runs and 165 wickets in first-class cricket speak volumes of his calibre. Former India player Gopal Sharma, who played five Tests and 24 ODIs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is likely to be roped in as an advisor to provide strategic inputs for various teams....