Headlines
Rain, thunderstorm may play spoilsport at IPL opening ceremony
Kolkata, April 6
There is a high possibility
of rain and thunderstorm interrupting the opening ceremony of the Indian
Premier League (IPL) at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Tuesday,
according to the Met office predictions.
The two-hour gala
featuring Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma,
Pritam and Hrithik Roshan is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
Regional
Meteorological Centre director G.C. Debnath said apart from showers,
there is a high chance of a thunderstorm striking Kolkata and a
surrounding 50-km area in the afternoon.
"There is a high
possibility of rain and thunderstorm around Kolkata and surrounding 50
km on Tuesday especially in the afternoon and evening. It is difficult
to say if it will affect Salt Lake but chances are high," Debnath said.
The
weatherman's forecast has already increased the creases on the
foreheads of the organisers, who are particularly concerned about the
smooth conduct of a light and laser show which is supposed to be the
main attraction of the ceremony, in the event of the thunderstorm.
All eight team captains will be present at the function to take the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket pledge.
Gautam
Gambhir, captain of defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, will put
the trophy back in play, signalling the start of the 2015 season.