Hospice6 hours ago
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stepped up its preparations for the Test match to be played between March 1 and March 5 at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in Himachal between the Indian and Australian cricket teams. Before this Test match, BCCI’s Chief Pitch Curator Ashish Bhowmik arrived to take stock of the new outfield being built in the stadium.
Ashish Bhowmik returned to Mumbai after inspecting the ground for about an hour. Will now submit report related to Dharamshala Stadium to BCCI officials in Mumbai. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series of 4 Test matches between the Indian and Australian cricket teams will begin on 9 February. The third Test match of the same series is to be played in Dharamshala from March 1 to March 5.
Apart from the BCCI’s Chief Pitch Curator, the team of broadcasters doing live coverage of the Test match also visited the stadium and inspected the camera installation points. During this, members of the Member of Broadcast Committee were present.
Preparations are going on in full swing at the stadium for the Test match.
5 pitches for international matches
This test match will be played on the new outfield of the stadium. It has been fitted with advanced technology sub-air system. In case of rain, the ground can be dried and prepared for the game within just 15 to 20 minutes.
The chairs in all the stands of the stadium are also being repaired. Although there are 9 pitches in Dharamshala Stadium, but the five pitches in the middle of the ground have been prepared according to international matches. Arrangements have also been made to install wicket cameras in these five pitches. The company preparing the outfield will handover the ground to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) after completing its work by February 15. After that BCCI pitch curator Sunil Chauhan will start the pitch work.
BCCI Chief Pitch Curator inspecting Dharamshala Stadium.
Outfield made from geo synthetic sheet and sand
Geo-synthetic sheet has been used here to avoid getting soil in the sand laid for the new outfield at Dharamshala Stadium. This sheet will act as a wall between the sand and soil inside the ground. This will increase the life of the sand laid in the field. In simple words, the strong synthetic fabric used in large civil engineering projects is called geo synthetic sheet. The fabric itself reinforces loose soil and is useful in lawn settings as well as preventing erosion.
25 thousand people will be able to sit in the stadium
The new outfield of Dharamshala Stadium, which is one of the most beautiful grounds in the world, is covered with sand-based grass which will protect players from injury. Apart from a practice ground, indoor cricket academy and indoor stadium, there is also a state-of-the-art gym inside the stadium.
BCCI has 10 stadiums in India, of which Dharamshala comes at number three. 25 thousand people can sit here. Built at an altitude of 1317 meters above sea level, this stadium and the view from here have been praised by many foreign cricketers.