India-Pakistan clash: Rain, Earth Hour to disappoint fans?

Wrapped in layers of security, Eden Gardens is all set to host the high voltage India-Pakistan World Twenty20 clash here on Saturday. But will the weather gods hold up, wonder fans.

At the other end, the Earth Hour celebrations have also caused a buzz. Should you or shouldn't you switch off lights (and your television sets) for an hour between 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm on Saturday when the match would be on in full swing?

With the sun playing hide and seek and the regional meteorological office forecasting light rain and lightning in the evening, the mega cricket battle between arch-rivals India and Pakistan lies at the mercy of the rain gods.

"There is a possibility of light rain and lightning in the evening. Various places in Kolkata have already witnessed light showers since morning," a Met official told IANS.

Fans took to Twitter and Facebook expressing apprehension as the rain threatens to play spoilsport.

"Rains have stopped for now in Kolkata though clouds hover above," chirped a fan.

A section of the twitterati prayed for rain, so that Earth Hour celebrations were not hampered.

"Rain Gods threaten to visit the #IndvsPak match at Kolkata! If it rains, Mauka to celebrate #EarthHour without any guilt :)," tweeted a netizen.

Even megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is scheduled to render the national anthem of India at the inaugural ceremony, advocated switching off lights.

"Earth Hour is today. Switch off and sign up to make #climatechange history at http://www.earthhour.inA," he tweeted.

Guilt-tripping or not, come rain or sun, over the week preceding the clash, die-hard fans gave a thumbs-up to the match being shifted to Kolkata from Dharamsala.

"Good that Ind Pak match got shifted to Kolkata for whatever reason. Atleast it wont get abandoned due to rains ! #WCT20,a a spectator tweeted.

The fans' confidence about the game remaining unaffected by possible rain stems from the Sourav Ganguly led Cricket Association of Bengal overhauling the Eden Gardens drainage system. In the past, Eden Gardens had been notorious for matches being abandoned due to showers.