Cricket Versus National Security

The Indian Army claims that the Annandale ground, just three km from Shimla’s Ridge, is of strategic significance for it from the national security perspective, whereas Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Sunday said “it’s under illegal occupation”. Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, headed by Anurag Thakur, BJP MP and son of Dhumal, wants the ground’s transfer to the local administration for developing a multipurpose stadium there.

In a hard hitting press release, the Army said, "The State seems to be hell bent on destroying the meagre existing forest cover, all at the behest of land mafia, eying phenomenal profits, which the cricket stadium project would bring."

  FirstPost: Annandale ground: Himachal, Army head for confrontation