The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) is working exhausting to get the outfield of the Dharamshala Stadium match-ready for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the present state of affairs, there are issues concerning the outfield and the Board of Control for Cricket in India has stored its choices open if the match goes forward as scheduled within the metropolis on March 1.
The HPCA hopes to have the bottom prepared by the point the workforce travels to play their third Test match, which remains to be greater than two weeks away. The BCCI inspection workforce, together with the curator, will go to Dharamshala on February 12 to take inventory of the state of affairs after which a choice shall be taken. The current rains within the metropolis have additionally delayed the work, and if the climate does not enhance, it may create extra issues for the bottom staff.
The HPCA Stadium, which is among the most stunning venues in world cricket, has beforehand hosted solely Tests and was joined by India and Australia in 2017. Although it has repeatedly hosted T20Is and ODIs, the HPCA had deliberate to relay your entire outfield maintaining in thoughts the native climate situations. Consequently, the relaying work began after the monsoon and it’s understood {that a} small portion of the work close to the Chowk is but to be accomplished.
The factor about BCCI is that for the reason that begin of labor, the venue has not hosted any match and they don’t seem to be clear how the pitch will behave. Usually when the pitch and outfield are re-laid, it’s often examined in a match and to this point this has not occurred. During the Ranji Trophy season, Himachal performed their residence matches at Nadaun as work continued at Dharamsala.
“There remains to be some work to be carried out close to the facet space of ​​the pitch. We are hopeful that issues shall be prepared earlier than the match. HPCA will take a choice after inspection by BCCI. We have re-laid your entire floor with correct drainage and sprinkled the bottom. Some work remains to be pending and three weeks are left, so we really feel that the work shall be accomplished.
If Dharamshala is dominated out, the BCCI can have a look at Mohali as an choice. Even Bengaluru is into consideration and both means the BCCI is seeking to formalize the choice on the earliest maintaining in thoughts the logistical challenges. “If the Test is dropped, the curators of the new venue also need time to prepare the pitch,” he added. The closing name is anticipated by Monday or Tuesday.
As per the schedule, Delhi and Ahmedabad will host the second and fourth Test respectively.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
