Half the tickets for IPL Dharamshala matches sold out – President Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association

(File Photo)

Shimla: With half the tickets sold out for the two Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the neatly laid out Dharamshala stadium later in the month, many await an action packed outing in the Dhauladhars mountains to witness the advent of world class cricket even though problems of high end accommodation availability persists.

Anurag Thakur, MP and president Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) says, “There is a tremendous demand for bookings to witness the 2 IPL matches and already over half the tickets have been sold out.”

“Most are aware,” he adds, “about non-availability of 5 star accommodations in Dharamshala but we are working on that and by next year this infrastructural constraint would be got over for holding of international cricket matches.”

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama would be the chief guest for the second IPL match that is to be played between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab on April 18,” he said adding, for the first match between Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers to be played on 16th April, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would be the chief guest.

Thakur went onto say said, “the venue had been geared up for holding these matches, which would be a relief for the players to be playing in the cool climes at 4000 feet altitude, where the peak summer temperatures do not cross 30 degree Celsius, while most of the country has to live out in heat waves.

He said that HPCA was constructing residential facilities for the players and officials of the cricket associations and some of it would be ready for use during the upcoming matches.

Excited about being part of the spectator crowd, Piyush Mehta says, “cricket is a passion for me and I want regret missing out on work for the great weekend that I’m looking forward to at Dharamshala.

Constructed with a budget of Rs 50 crore, the stadium ready to hold its first international level cricket tournament has a seating capacity for 20,000 spectators and for being part of the crowd th tickets pricing ranges start at Rs 125 and go upto Rs 12,000 at the high end.

Ravinder Makhaik

As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.

Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.