Dharamshala: Caught in a legal muddle between the state government and HP Cricket Association deterring Kings XI Punjab for hosting any IPL matches at the scenic ground here, the Himachal government today distanced itself from the issue with a senior minister GS Bali stating that the government was not at all against the organizing of IPL matches in Dharamsala.
Bali who is transport and food minister in the Virbhadra Singh led congress government claimed, “The organizers (KingsXI Punjab) have actually not shown any desire to organize such matches in Dharamshala this year. When the state government is unaware of it how is it that the BJP is blaming the state government for IPL matches not being played here.”
Bali said that HPCA president Anurag Thakur was giving political colour to the entire episode. He said, “if BCCI or HPCA or Kings XI still wish to stage some IPL matches in Dharamsala, the government will help the organizers like we have done in past also.”. 
As per the schedule of the IPL 2015 matches , Dharamshala does not figure as Kings XI centre . It will be for the second consecutive year that Dharamsala, is not going to host any IPL match. Last year, the state government had not granted permission due to ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma is of the view that due to the ongoing tussle between the HPCA and the state government, cricket franchisees do not want to take the risk of hosting matches here. “However, HPCA president Anurag Thakur is still trying for IPL matches for Dharamsala,” he said.
He further said that the Himachal Government’s attitude of charging security dues and entertainment tax from the teams hosting matches here is also keeping the owners of the teams away from Dharamshala .
However a HPCA official on the condition of anonymity let this correspond know that the Kings XI was keeping its options open for hosting two matches at Dharamshala in the current season. The two matches scheduled for 13th May between Kings XI vs RCB and 16th May between Kings XI vs CSK are presently being shown to be played at Mohali.
“Should the state government take an active interest, shifting of these matches of these matches for the scenic stadium in Dharamshala would be announced later,” claimed the HPCA official
No IPL matches being organised at the stadium here has impacted business and made all the cricket lovers gloomy.
The Dharamshala stadium had been the home ground of the Punjab Kings XI ,which organized matches here from 2010 to 2013.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
