Dharamsala to host India, Lanka T20I in March

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 19

After about seven years, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) will hold an international cricket match at its Dharamsala stadium.

President of the HPCA Arun Kumar Dhumal gave this information at an annual general meeting of the association late last evening. Arun announced that the BCCI had decided to host a T20 match between India and Sri Lanka in March next year.

The last international match at the stadium was played in 2013. Thereafter, two matches were planned by the BCCI here in 2019 and 2020. The 2019 one-day international match between India and South Africa was washed out due to rain while the second match, the T20I tie between the same teams, could not be held due to the Covid pandemic.

Arun Dhumal, who is also the treasurer in the BCCI, said the Dharamsala stadium was one of the most beautiful cricket stadiums of the country and the body wanted to organise more matches here. As soon as the pandemic scare will reduce, more matches would be held here.

The news regarding the international cricket match in Dharamsala has been welcomed by the hotel industry that has been reeling under losses due to the pandemic.

General secretary of the Smart City Dharamsala Hotel Association Sanjeev Gandhi said it was a welcome decision by the BCCI and the HPCA. “It will attract tourists to the area,” he added.

He said the government had been talking of making Dharamsala a sports hub. However, besides bringing up an international cricket stadium, nothing much had been done to promote it as a sports destination. International visitors were the lifeline for the tourism but they might not return soon due to the Covid threat. Hosting of international matches was the only way domestic tourists could be brought back to the area, he said.

Two Ties planned, cancelled later

• Two matches were planned by the BCCI here in 2019 and 2020
• In 2019, one-day international tie between India and South Africa was washed out due to rain
• In 2020, T20I tie between the same teams could not be held due to Covid

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