IND vs BAN, Day-Night Test: List Of Guests To Attend Opening Of Pink Test

Eden Gardens to have a massive crowd on the opening day, including a number of renowned celebrities, politicians and sports stars

India’s first-ever day-night Test match against Bangladesh on Friday is going to witness a full-pack house at the iconic Eden Gardens. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and BCCI boss, Sourav Ganguly, has already intimated a massive crowd on the opening day, including a number of renowned celebrities, politicians and sports stars. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate India’s first-ever D/N Test by ringing the customary Eden Bell just before the start of play. During the lunch break, there will be a chat show involving the Fab Five -- Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, the architect of the D/N Test. The other former cricketers who have confirmed their presence include S Ramesh, Saba Karim, Sunil Joshi, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Kris Srikkanth, Farook Engineer and Chandu Borde. Athletes from other sports disciplines will include Abhinav Bindra, P Gopichand, P V Sindhu, Sania Mirza and Mary Kom. Chess legends Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen will not be able to turn up. Naimur Rahman, Mohammed Mahmudul Hasan, Maharab Hossain, Mohammed Hasibul Hussain, Shahriar Hossain Biddut, Kazi Habibul Bashar and Mohammed Akram Khan are the former Bangladesh cricketers who have confirmed their presence. The tea break will feature an instrumental by Sorendu and Group while the former captains will be given a Lap of honour. The grand felicitation will happen post-match with a performance by Runa Laila, while a cultural programme by Jeet Ganguly will conclude the opening day. The CAB has cancelled the plan to have Army paratroopers flying into the Eden Gardens to hand over a pink ball each to the captains before the toss of the day-night Test on Friday. The changes were made after the security clearance did not come a day ahead of the historic match between India and Bangladesh. As per reports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah won’t be in attendance as per the final program list sent by the CAB.