There will be fireworks here, a few hours ahead of Diwali this year. The pitch at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, venue for the November 8 India-Pakistan day-night ODI (second in the series), will be good for strokeplay, which can easily translate into an absorbing match for the cricket-crazy. Much will be at stake for the teams, and Daljit Singh, chief curator at the PCA Stadium, believes it will be an absorbing contest.The cool November evening will ensure the dew factor, and even a whiff of grass on the pitch will give the swing and seam bowlers a major say in the proceedings. “But,” felt Daljit, “with the bounce being even, you can also expect the batsmen to play their shots. Yes, it will be a typical PCA wicket, where the ball will swing and seam, but I would bank on batsmen to score here too.” The PCA ground has undergone the fertilisation process three times in the last two months, while the final touches would be given in the next two or three days. On the dew factor, Daljit said: “In North India during the winters you would definitely have dew. And in the evening it will be difficult to grip the ball, but we are taking all measures to ensure that dew doesn’t become a hindrance.” He, however, ruled out the use of any chemical spray to contain the dew, saying, “We are not using any chemical spray but ropes, super-soppers and mops will be placed to remove dew from the ground. And now that the ball is changed after 34 overs in a one-day match, the bowlers may not struggle that much to grip the ball.” It may be recalled that during the match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy in 2006, an attempt was made to reduce the extent of dew on the outfield, and for this purpose the ICC had decided to use a chemical spray called APSA-80 to contain the dew.
