Chail stadium set to get facelift

However,some good news came its way when Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announced that he would push for restoration of the stadium and make it fit to host international matches,backing persistent pleas for the same over the years.

In Chail on Saturday,the Chief Minister said,“I will ask the Himachal Cricket Association to initiate steps for development of the cricket stadium on the modern lines. If Dharamsala has become an international stadium,this world’ highest cricket ground could also be re-developed.” He was speaking at the Rashtriya Military School,which completed 50 years in Himachal Pradesh.

The Dharamsala stadium has so far hosted three IPL matches.

Built in 1893 by Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh,who developed Chail as his summer capital,the ground here at an altitude of 7,500 feet was used top play friendly matches by him. It was later transferred to the military school when it shifted here from Jalandhar.

“We are working hard to conserve all heritage sites in Chail and there are so many plans in the pipeline. If the state government helps in developing the cricket stadium it will certainly be a welcome step,” said Sanjay Sood,who heads the Chail Heritage Foundation.

Sanjay Sharma,Secretary of Himachal Cricket Association,which is headed by Anurag Thakur (MP and Chief Minister’s son),said,“If the state government writes to us,we will examine the possibilities of some collaborations to develop it as a modern cricket stadium. However,since the ground is small it can’t meet the international standards and has no scope for expansions. Yet some facilities could be created for holding competitive or friendly matches.”

The ground,which under army control,is also for polo. There is a well-maintained basketball court and the same cricket ground is used for football. In one corner of the ground there is a historic tree on which the local students have constructed a beautiful tree house.

Chail,situated at an altitude of 2,250 m,higher than Shimla,is surrounded by forests of chir pine and deodars. The ground was created after levelling a hilltop by the cricket-loving Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.