Published: Jun 16, 2016, 10:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 16, 2016, 11:18 PM (IST)
Kolkata: The Met department has predicted thunderstorms for the next two days, putting under cloud the first day-night pink ball cricket match to be played at the Eden Gardens June 18-21. City clubs Mohun Bagan and Bhowanipore are scheduled to lock horns in the tie. “There are 60 to 70 per cent chances of thunderstorms on Saturday. There will be intermittent showers. It might continue till Sunday,” a Met official said on Thursday. The game on Saturday will start at 2.30 p.m and will continue under lights with pink Kookaburra balls. ALSO READ: Ganguly: Day-Night Test cricket innovative concept
It will be telecast live by BCCI’s official broadcaster Star Sports and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly is leaving no stone unturned to make the event a success. Though Eden is equipped to deal with thundershowers with covers extending throughout the ground, constant rainfall can be a worry. Ganguly on Thursday said they would wait to see what directives the regional governing body gets from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding pink-ball cricket. Reportedly, New Zealand who were to play the first ever day-night Test with pink ball in India have backed off saying they are not comfortable playing in Indian conditions. A top CAB official also confirmed that Eden Gardens was in the reckoning to host the game but now the proposal was uncertain.
The present CAB president has also organised a pink-ball Super League final which will be played between Kolkata clubs Bhowanipore and Mohun Bagan from June 18-21 at the Eden Gardens.
