PCA unhappy with Kings for picking Dharamsala?

While the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to be rolled out anytime soon, sources have claimed that the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is unhappy with the revamped Punjab Kings franchisee for showing interest in hosting three important matches at Dharamsala instead of picking the newly-built stadium at Mullanpur.

Sources claimed that Punjab Kings have proposed to host their matches against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium. They also want a preparatory camp at the same venue in the first week of March.

Last season, Punjab Kings had hosted five matches at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International PCA Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur for the first time. Later in the tournament, they hosted two matches, against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at their second home ground at Dharamsala. While the side lost both their matches at Dharamsala, they had only one win from the five matches played at Mullanpur.

"The IPL managing committee is expected to release the tournament schedule this week or early next week. However, sources have confirmed that the PCA authorities have submitted their resentment with the Punjab Kings management for possibly choosing Dharamsala over Mullanpur for hosting three important fixtures. The final call may be taken by the IPL chairman (Arun Singh Dhumal). However, as of now, there's no development with regard to finalising the venues," said a highly-placed source.

Both the PCA and Punjab Kings authorities remained unavailable for a comment on the issue.

Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are arguably the most popular teams in the league and attract a large number of spectators. Since the Mullanpur facility is newly built, the management is eager to host important events and showcase its preparedness for hosting ICC or BCCI matches in the future.

In 2023, Punjab Kings had hosted Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala, while playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali. The Dharamsala stadium, offering a capacity of 23,000 spectators, is a picturesque arena surrounded by a snow-capped background of the Dhauladhar range. The Mullanpur stadium offers a capacity of 38,000 spectators and hosted its first ever important event (IPL) last year.