Himachal not to charge fees for India - South Africa cricket match

Shimla, September 19 - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Saturday the state would not charge any security fee from the BCCI for a T20 international match to be played at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium on October 2.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur, who is also the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president, has invited the chief minister, for the match.

Accepting the invitation to attend T-20 between India and South Africa in the state on October 2, an official statement quoting Singh said the fees for providing security to the players would be exempted.

Earlier, the government said it would charge for providing security to any cricket match that was commercial.

Meanwhile, the HPCA is leaving no stone unturned to make the first match between India and South Africa at its new showpiece venue, located at an altitude of 4,000 feet above sea-level, with the mighty snow-clad Dhauladhar Ranges forming the backdrop, a warm and welcoming affair.

This is the second international match at the venue. The first was an ODI between India and England held on January 27, 2013.

The stadium, 250 km from Shimla, has a 21,600-seating capacity, besides a world-class indoor stadium comprising video analysis facilities for both bowlers and players, a club lounge, restaurant, bar and banquet hall.

(IANS)