Stadium in Shimla

Urban upswing in the north

Shimla could soon have a world-class cricket stadium once the Indian Army hands over a scenic ground to the Himachal Pradesh government.

The plan has been mooted by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), a state body of the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI).

"The sprawling Annadale Grounds is still with the Army, even though the lease has expired. The moment we are handed over this ground we will develop a stadium here," said Anurag Thakur, HPCA president, here on Monday.

"A couple of years from now, the estimated cost of the project (stadium) will be around Rs 20 crore," Thakur said.

"Once the stadium is constructed in the wooded lower part of Shimla town, located at around 6000 feet above the sea level (the height of proposed stadium), it will not only serve cricket but other sports as well," he said. "Shimla has five-star hotels and other infrastructure and can host international tournaments," Thakur added.

Experts say the weather all the year round in Shimla is like in England, favourable to seam bowling. The pitch here could also serve as a conditioning camp for the Indian cricket team before an overseas tour.

Thakur has been instrumental in building the hill state's first international stadium located in Dharamsala, 280 km from here, completed at Rs 12 crore last year.

This ground (at Dharamsala) is at an altitude of over 4,500 feet and is overlooked by snow-covered Himalayan ranges. It hosted the Indo-Pak trial match earlier this year. "By the end of this year, we could host the first one-day international match in Dharamsala," said Thakur.