HPCA president Anurag Thakur wants to host an ODI match at the picturesque cricket stadium here, before iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar retires.
Published: May 17, 2011, 10:35 AM (IST)
Edited: May 17, 2011, 10:35 AM (IST)
The HPCA is determined to get an international status to the scenic Dharamsala stadium © Getty Images
Dharamsala: May 17, 2011
HPCA president Anurag Thakur wants to host an ODI match at the picturesque cricket stadium here, before iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar retires.
The Indian Premier League has seen many international players playing in the beautiful ground but Tendulkar is yet to set his foot on this stadium.
“The only facility which was preventing us from getting international status was the lack of a five-star hotel. After waiting for 10 years for some business house to build one, HPCA built one on our own,” said Anurag.
“My dream is to host a one-day international before Tendulkar retires,” he added.
ICC referee Alan Hurst had objected to the idea of Dharamsala Stadium becoming a venue for international matches in 2007.
The state association took corrective measures after that. Since then, the stadium is now a favourite for lot of Indian and international stars.
There is hardly any cricket ground situated so near to the snow line. The site was selected to be a cricket stadium in 2000 and the first domestic match was played here in 2002.
It hosted a Pakistan vs India A practice match in 2005 apart from two under-19 ODIs between India and Australia.
But still it has not been approved as an international stadium by ICC.
“I am fully committed to get an International status for the ground this year,” said Thakur.
© PTI
