The international stadium will increase the district's appeal as a venue for several national level tournaments. It will also be instrumental in the development of other sports at local level apart from cricket.
Construction of the stadium, which is to be named Dasharath Chand Cricket Stadium after the martyr Dasharath Chand, at Sundarkhali VDC, has already filled players, coaches, sponsors and others with excitement and optimism.As per the government plan, the stadium will be built at a cost of Rs 115 million and completed in three years.
According to Tejprakash Bhatta, secretary of Regional Cricket Development Council of region no 6, the government has already released the budget through National Sports Council to begin the construction work.
"Task of leveling the pitch is going on rapidly," he said.
The well-equipped stadium, measuring 55 yards, will comprise a parapet, gymnasium, indoor hall and pavilion.
"Construction of 100 m wall and leveling of ground will be completed in two months," said secretary Bhatta.
Region no 6 acting President Binod Bahadur Chand said that the construction of the stadium will take the regional cricket to a whole new height.
"Not just the cricketing scene, it will also be instrumental for the development of other sports and promotion of tourism in the region," said Chand.
"We had everything. The only thing lacking was a good stadium. We had not been able to hold a national-level tournament so far. This is the beginning for the local cricket."
Baitadi has produced good cricketers: players like Dhirendra Chand, Jagadish Chand, Manoj Joshi and Yogendra Karki made into the men's national team, while Ritu Kanaujiya, Anjali Chand, Rekha Rawal, Janaki Bhatta and Dropadi Kunwar played for the women's team.
The craze of cricket has grown hugely lately in Baitadi, a district bordering India, a country were the sports is wildly popular.
Although the cricket mania seems to have been fueled to a great extent by the craze in India, it was not enough for the development of the game in the district in lack of infrastructure.
The district has produced some good players by investing in players and giving them opportunities to play in reputed tournaments.
Contribution of Chand brothers, Dhan Bahadur and Tej Bahadur, who hail from Shivanath VDC, to Nepal's cricket is notable. The brothers have been organizing Suvakamana Cup since the last eight years. It has the highest cash prize among the tournaments organized by the private sector. Altogether there are 36 cricket clubs registered at Baitadi District Cricket Association.
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