The third Test between India and Australia is at risk of being moved to a different venue at the eleventh hour, with Dharamsala’s Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium reportedly not fit to host international cricket.
The picturesque venue, nestled in the Dhauladhar mountain range, is scheduled to host the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from March 1. HPCA Stadium, which has not hosted a first-class match since early 2020, recently underwent renovations to relay the outfield and fit a new drainage system, but recent rain in the city has delayed the work.
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According to ESPNcricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s team of experts is expected to conduct an inspection of the ground over the coming days to determine whether the ground is ready to host Test cricket.
“There is still some work that needs to be done near the side area of the pitch. We are hopeful that things will be ready before the game,” a HPCA source told The Indian Express.
“The HPCA will take a call after the BCCI inspection. We have relaid the whole surface with proper drainage and have added sprinklers to the ground. Some work is still pending and as three weeks are left we feel the work will be completed.”
Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Pune and Indore have been cited as back-up venues if the fixture needs to be moved.
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HPCA Stadium has hosted one Test match before, coincidentally between India and Australia in 2017. The hosts won by eight wickets to secure a 2-1 series triumph.
Steve Smith peeled off a classy century, his third of the series, while opener David Warner and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade smacked fifties — no other Australians contributed with the bat. Nathan Lyon claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, finishing with match figures of 5-111.
Previously, Australia faced New Zealand in Dharamshala during the 2016 T20 World Cup, with the Kiwis winning by eight runs.
Tickets for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are yet to be released.
2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy fixtures
February 9-13: First Test, Nagpur
February 17-21: Second Test, Delhi
March 1-5: Third Test, Dharamsala
March 9-13: Fourth Test, Ahmedabad
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