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    "title": "Proud to host World T20 matches Says Himachal cricket official",
    "lang": "en",
    "series": "79",
    "cup_year": "2015",
    "article_type": "General",
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    "editor1": "<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Shimla, Dec 12<\/strong>- With the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala all set to host 10 World T20 matches next year, a HPCA official said on Saturday that it is a proud moment for the state.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&quot;It&#39;s a moment of pride and honour that our small state and the HPCA have been allotted eight men&#39;s matches and two women&#39;s in the upcoming T20 World Cup making Dharamsala one of the biggest and most sought after venues in India,&quot; HPCA press secretary Mohit Sood told reporters here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the matches would be lined up from March 9 to 24.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament will be staged across eight venues in India from March 8 to April 3. A total of 58 matches, including 35 men&#39;s matches and 23 women&#39;s matches, will be played during the 27-day tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sood said excitement would be high at two matches where arch-rivals India and Pakistan and Australia and New Zealand clash with each other.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said matches between India and Pakistan have also offered opportunities for cricket diplomacy as a means to improve relations between the two countries by allowing heads of state to exchange visits and cricket fans to watch some high quality action.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&quot;We are expecting a lot of activity -- diplomatically and otherwise - evolved around the matches,&quot; he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">HPCA officials, headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur said the stadium&#39;s popularity soared with the hosting of nine Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, two India-England and India-West Indies ODIs and one Twenty20 match between South Africa and India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The stadium, 250 km from state capital Shimla, has a 20,400-seating capacity, besides separate practice areas, a club lounge, restaurant, bar and banquet hall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Agency<\/p>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n",
    "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/anurag-thakur20.jpg",
    "alt_img": "Anurag Thakur Image",
    "alt_title": "Anurag Thakur",
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    "seo_title": "Proud to host World T20 matches Says Himachal cricket official",
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    "created": "2015-12-12 18:10:00",
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