Dharamsala to host international matches

Shimla: The picturesque stadium in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala town is all set to host international cricket matches with the International Cricket Council (ICC) giving its clearance, an official said here on Friday.

The ICC has approved the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium for hosting one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 matches, HPCA press secretary Mohit Sood told IANS.

He said former Australian cricketer and ICC match referee David Boon visited the stadium on December 12 last year to check infrastructure for hosting international matches.

The ICC has approved the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala for hosting ODIs and T20 internationals.

"The setting and outlook of this venue is outstanding, being located in the shadow of the Himalayan mountains, making it one of the most unique in the cricketing world," Boon said in a report.

HPCA officials said the stadium's popularity soared with the hosting of five IPL matches in the past two IPL seasons.

It's being counted as the second home ground for the Kings XI Punjab team, which originally belongs to Mohali near Chandigarh.

The stadium, 250 km from state capital Shimla, has a 20,400-seating capacity, besides separate practice areas, a club lounge, restaurant, bar and banquet hall.

It figured first on the international cricket map in 2005 when it hosted a warm-up tie between the touring Pakistan team and the Indian Board President's XI. Since then, the stadium has hosted 24 matches in the Ranji Trophy, apart from hosting two ODIs between India Under 19 and Australia Under 19 on September 24 and 25, 2005.

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