Pak can only dream of making a stadium like Dharamsala: Akram

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, standing tall at the centre of Dharamsala, has garnered a good amount of attention over the last few weeks as it hosted India’s fifth and final Test match against England.
Considered one of the most beautiful venues to watch cricket across the world, the Dharamsala Stadium is nestled amid the picturesque Dhauladhar mountain range in Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by lush greenery and snow-engulfed Himalayas, this stadium offers spectators an unparalleled experience, where the beauty of the surroundings competes only with the intensity of the cricket on display.
With its unique setting at an altitude of 1,457 meters above sea level, the stadium remains famous for its scenic beauty. And Dharamsala’s beauty is admired by not only Indian fans but also cricket enthusiasts across the globe.
Recently, the Dharmasala-based ground grabbed the centrestage at the renowned Pakistani sports show, The Pavilion, aired on A Sports channel, where cricket legend Wasim Akram addressed a fan questioning Pakistan’s lack of picturesque stadiums.
While asked why PCB don’t invest in making new ground in the northern side of Pakistan, drawing a close comparison with the likes of India’s Dharamsala Stadium and New Zealand’s Queenstown Stadium, Akram blatantly replied, “We can’t even maintain three stadiums, (Baki kaha naya bana lenge) how could we make a new one? (Gaddafi ki chhat dekhi hai) Have you seen the roof of the Gaddafi Stadium that they were showing with the drone? We can’t even control the three we have. We can only dream of making a new one. We have enough area to make a new stadium, though. Abbottabad is a very beautiful ground.”
Meanwhile, in the fifth match of the series between India and England at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, India secured a dominant victory by an innings and 64 runs, clinching the series 4-1.
Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his brilliance by claiming a five-wicket haul in the second innings, joining elite company alongside spin legends Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble as the only bowlers to achieve this feat in their 100th Test.