Shimla:13th April, 2012 would go as a historic and momentous day in the history of the State in general and Cricket in the State in particular, when the Cricket Match was played between Indian MPs and their counterpart from United Kingdom (UK). The credit for this goes to Sh. Anurag Thakur MP and President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association who despite all odds and challenges had never looked back to construct the Stadium at Dharamshala which is today one of the 17 selected Stadium in the Country selected by the Indian Cricket Board to hold National and International matches.

With holding of such type of matches in Himachal Pradesh State had got exposure world wide. Thanks to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for having constructed the Cricket Stadium at Dharamshala which is surrounded by lofty Dhauladhar snow ranges. The work on this stadium was started in the year 2002 and dedicated to the people in the year 2010 by spending over Rs. 60 crore. This has the capacity of 20,000 to sit. It has hosted IPL matches, match between Pakistan and India besides other matches. The comments of former Indian Cricket Team Captain, Moohammad Azharudin during his visit to Dharamshala to play the match yesterday that Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) should start hosting Test Matches as it is not just a beautiful stadium but also have all the facilities available and has got a beautiful setting is really a praiseworthy for the HPCA headed by Shri Anurag Thakur.

The friendly match played yesterday between the MPs of both the Countries, out of whom some are international fame cricketers was one of its own kind and has paved the way for strengthening the age old relations between the UK and India 'Mathew Hancock' the captain of England team has described this match importance not only from sports point of view but also from strengthening of ties between the two countries. He also lauded the HPCA for constructing such a beautiful and full of facilities Cricket Stadium.

The Indian team was led by Shri Anurag Thakur, MP from Himachal Pradesh who is also President of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal presented the traditional Himachali shawls and caps to the players of both the teams. He thanked them for their visit to the State and extended standing invitation for future. He lauded the HPCA for organizing the event and extended his good wishes for strengthening of activities of the HPCA.

Shri Anurag Thakur, President, HPCA revealed that teams from neighboring countries would be invited to play matches at Dharamshala in near future.