Dharamshala to be ready for IPL by April 15

New Delhi: High on spirits after getting the nod to host this season's Indian Premier League matches, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) on Wednesday said the stadium in Dharamshala would be ready for the Twenty20 tournament by April 15.


HPCA President Anurag Thakur, who played a key role in bringing the IPL to the hill state, said the the upgradation of the stadium will be done as per international guidelines and the installation of floodlights would be completed within next 15 days.


"The venue of Twenty20 IPL matches at Dharamshala Cricket Stadium will be completed according to international standards by April 15," Thakur said in a statement.


"The work on installation of flood lights is on war footing and will be completed in next 15 days," he added.


In place of Delhi, Jaipur and Vishakapatnam, the IPL officials have included Dharamshala and Ahmedabad as the new venues in their revised third schedule submitted to the Home Ministry after the concerned state governments expressed their unwillingness to host the matches due to security reasons during the general elections that coincides with the event.


The HPCA President said the stadium in Dharamshala boasts of all the necessary world-class facilities required to host international matches.


"The stadium has been constructed with initial cost of Rs 35 crore and it has seating capacity of 18,500 visitors. It has separate boxes for corporates and media. It's also got sauna and gymnasium club house for the players," Thakur said.

The stadium in Dharamshala, which is situated 4000 feet above the sea level and has the beautiful Dhauldahar mountains in the back drop, has already hosted an international match between India 'A' and South Africa 'A' team, besides holding various domestic games.


Thakur also viewed Dharamshala will be an added attraction for the cricket lovers and tourists after the IPL matches.


"The valley attracts maximum foreign tourists during this period and it will further add to the promotion of tourism in the state," he said.


The HPCA President also said the Chief Minister of the state has already informed the Home Ministry that they are in a position to hold the IPL matches by themselves without central forces.


"Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has already told the Union Government that the state will provide fool-proof security to the event at its own level and there is no need for any paramilitary forces," Thakur said.


"The Chief Minister has directed the police and home department to make elaborate security arrangements for the players and the visitors," he added.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/dharamshala-to-be-ready-for-ipl-by-april-15/39193-13-1.html

Security concerns for taking out Delhi, Jaipur: Modi

Mumbai: Delhi and Jaipur have been taken off the IPL's revamped schedule given to the Home Ministry by the Twenty20 League organisers because of security concerns in these two centres, according to IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.


"There are security issues in these two states and that's the reason Delhi and Jaipur have been taken out of the IPL schedule," Modi told reporters here on Wednesday.


Modi explained that if these states desire to conduct IPL matches they need to talk directly to the MHA and get the clearance.


The IPL is battling hard to keep the money-spinning League's second season going in the wake of the recent terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan and its clash of dates with the general elections leading to security concerns in states where the matches are scheduled.


"We are working hard to finalise the IPL schedule," Modi said.


The IPL schedule, which has come under rough weather because of security issues raised by the states as it coincides with the polls, has been changed twice and is awaiting approval from the Home Ministry.


The IPL has fixed April 10-May 24 as the period for holding the second edition of the T20 League.


Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/cricket_news/

Runs dry up for India despite gritty fifties

Hamilton: Rahul Dravid scored a patient half century and shared a 106-run second wicket partnership with Gautam Gambhir as India reached 197 for three by tea on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand.


Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 25 and V.V.S. Laxman was on six as India reached the interval 82 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total of 279.


Gambhir was the first batsman out between lunch and tea, caught by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off Chris Martin for 72 and Dravid was bowled by Ian O'Brien for 66 to end an innings which lasted three hours.


Dravid and Gambhir lifted India from 36 for one, when Virender Sehwag was run out for 24 in the third over of the day, to 142 for two at the fall of Gambhir's wicket.


Gambhir reached his 10th half century in 117 minutes from 97 balls and Dravid, who batted with unshakeable concentration and rigid defense, notched his 54th from 110 balls with 10 fours.


While Gambhir walked into the medium pacers and scored from a variety of shots, heavily on the leg side, Dravid played from a firm base at the crease, cut strongly and took advantage of a gap in the slip field to take runs through third man.


Martin made the first breakthrough of the session when he generated reverse swing to the left-handed Gambhir who, driving lavishly, edged the ball at shoulder height to McCullum.


New Zealand's celebration of the wicket was short-lived because it brought to the wicket Tendulkar, in his 157th test, who shares with Dravid the third-most profitable partnership in test history.

Tendulkar has surpassed Australia's Allan Border to become the second most-capped player in test history behind another Australian, Steve Waugh.


Dravid and Tendulkar have generated more than 5,000 test runs for India, the pair behind only Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of the West Indies and Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer of Australia in test cricket partnerships.


Their partnerships produce more than 50 runs per innings on average but they had added only 35 on Thursday when O'Brien ripped a ball through Dravid's defense, knocking down his off stump.


Dravid batted with typical application for 183 minutes, hitting 12 fours while Gambhir occupied the crease for 174 minutes and hit 11 boundaries.


Gambhir's only previous blemish was to run out Sehwag for 24 early in the day, the start of which was delayed 15 minutes by the effects of rain. Gambhir turned a delivery to midwicket, took an easy single and called for the second as the ball was fielded by left-hander James Franklin.


Franklin's throw knocked down the stumps at the non-striker's end with Sehwag still more than a meter out of his ground.


Tendulkar offered a chance before tea, skying an attempted pull shot off Vettori when he was 11 but Daniel Flynn was unable to hold the catch running back on the leg side.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/runs-dry-up-for-india-despite-gritty-fifties/39203-13-1.html