Dharamsala Cricket Stadium has got a picturesque view [Twitter]
The Dharamsala Cricket Stadium has finally earned the green signal from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to host five fixtures in the upcoming World Cup 2023, including the much-awaited India-New Zealand clash on October 22.
Dharamsala Cricket Stadium to host five matches in World Cup 2023
A team of ICC and BCCI officials conducted a thorough inspection of the venue on Wednesday and were reportedly satisfied with the preparations.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, who has served as Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association chief, revealed the satisfaction of the ICC team with the new outfield and the pitches.
"They were very pleased with the new outfield and will soon be sharing their further observations in a detailed report. We have been working on the venue since the last one year, and it is now completely ready for World Cup matches," stated Dhumal as quoted by News18.
Over the past year, the stadium has undergone substantial renovations, with the entire outfield being redone, a fact that contributed to the relocation of the India-Australia Test earlier this year. The investment seems to have paid off, with the venue receiving high praise from cricketers during recent IPL fixtures.
The quality of the stadium's renovations was especially noted by Dhumal, who proudly pointed out the 'world-class' nature of the outfield, grass, and pitches. He revealed that former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden was so impressed that he questioned whether the grass was natural or artificial.
The IPL chairman further highlighted the new drainage system at the stadium, designed to provide more oxygen to the grassroots, ensuring a lush and green appearance. The monsoon served as a testing period for the new drainage facilities, and according to Dhumal, the results were impressive, with the ground drying up quickly during the heavy rains.
Regarding the ICC visit, Dhumal explained that no significant changes or suggestions were made since the venue already met the requirements for hosting World Cup matches.
"From a broadcast standpoint, we already have provisions for different boxes, and also space to have separate boxes for radio commentary. Moreover, the branding/marketing team wanted to do a venue tour to figure out in-stadia branding and advertising,” added the 46-year-old.
The ICC team has nearly completed inspections of most of the World Cup 2023 venues and is set to visit Lucknow this week, which will host the India vs England clash.
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