Shimla could soon boast of a world-class cricket stadium once the Indian Army hands over a scenic ground to the Himachal Pradesh government.

The plan to develop the stadium has been mooted by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), a state association of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"The sprawling Annadale grounds are still with the army, even though the lease has expired. The moment we are handed over this ground we will develop a fine stadium here," HPCA president Anurag Thakur said Monday.

"A couple of years from now the estimated cost of the project (stadium) will be around Rs.200 million ($4.5 million)," Thakur said.

The stadium will be located at around 6,000 ft above sea level and will be constructed in the wooded lower part of Shimla town.

Experts say the cool environs of this scenic town are much like English conditions, favourable to seam bowling. The pitch here could also replicate English conditions and serve as a conditioning camp for the Indian cricket team before an overseas tour.

"Once the stadium is constructed it will not only cater to cricket but other sports as well," he said adding that Shimla already had five star hotels and other infrastructure to host international tournaments.

Thakur was instrumental in setting up the hill state's first international stadium located in another resort town - Dharamsala, 280 km from here and completed at a cost of Rs.120 million ($2.7 million) last year.

The ground in Dharamsala at an altitude of 4,500 feet had hosted the India-Pakistan warm-up match at the start of the series earlier this year.

"By the end of this year, we could host the first one day international match in Dharamsala," said Thakur.