The long wait for the HPCA stadium to host a One- Day international is set to be over on Sunday. The organisers have left no stone unturned and the lush green outfield is a sight to behold.

The seeds of the winter grass were brought from New Zealand. “ We had to keep the outfield lush. So we got the seeds from New Zealand.

They can withstand extreme temperature.

We planted them in October and it took two months for the grass to grow. The outfield will be fast,” said curator Sunil Chauhan. “ The wicket will be sporting and will play the same for 100 overs. There will be good carry for the bowlers too,” he promised.

The facilities at the HPCA stadium have been spruced up for the match.

There is an arrangement to cover the entire ground within 10- 15 minutes in case it rains.

“The light covers cost more than ` 40 lakh. We got them especially for the ODI. We did not want to take any chance with the rain. We will be able to cover the ground quickly and also remove them quickly,” said an HPCA official A new hotel, The Pavilion, an extended facility provided by the state association, is hosting the two teams.

A rehabilitation centre and a gymnasium will make sure that the players can get everything under one roof.

After the ODI, HPCA will try to get hosting rights for Tests too. “ When we started building this place, we wanted to have a facility different from other states. That is what we have created here. Another advantage the venue has is that it can provide high- altitude training. We are well equipped. After this ODI, we will be pitching in for Test matches,” the official added.