Dharamsala to host at least three IPL ties: Official

Dharamsala, Feb 2 (PTI) The picturesque Dharamsalacricket stadium in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to host atleast three Twenty20 matches during the fourth edition of theIndian Premier League (IPL), an official said here today.

Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Himachal Pradesh CricketAssociation (HPCA), Sanjay Sharma said the co-owner of King''sXI Punjab Preity Zinta, who is a native of this State, wantsto have more matches here.

"Bollywood star Preity Zinta, who is the co-owner of theKings XI Punjab is a Himachali and she is keen to have morematches in the State."

Sharma also hinted that the 20,000 capacity venue mighteven get more matches than what is scheduled.

"The number of matches in Dharmsala could even rise tofour," Sharma said.

Elaborating on the efforts made by the HPCA toaccommodate the visiting player, some of whom had to stay inKangra, about 20 kms away from the venue, during the previousseason of the league, said, "72 rooms of the player''sresidence being constructed by HPCA in Dharamsala will beready by April this year. The accommodation will be wellequipped which will relieve players of the travel woes."

Kings XI Punjab''s home games are supposed to be sharedbetween the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium inMohali, the abode of the team during the previous editions,and the Dharamsala stadium.