At 12.58 pm, the Eden Bell was rung by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with Mamata Banerjee to signal the beginning of the 42nd Test match.
CALCUTTA (India): India’s first ever day/night Test here at the Eden Gardens got off to a colourful start with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were among top dignatiries present on the ocassion.
The Prime Minister and Chief Minister walked out to the ground to a load roar to set the pink ball rolling literally for the milestone affair between the two Test playing nations.
They were accompanied by BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, BCB President Nazmul Hazan, CAB Secretary Avishek Dalmiya, Sachin Tendulkar along with other officials.
Sheikh Hasina and Banerjee were escorted by India and Bangladesh skippers Virat Kohli and Mominul Haque Shawrab respectively.
At 12.58 pm the Eden Bell was rung by Sheikh Hasina along with Banerjee to signal the beginning of the 42nd Test match.
This is India’s 540th Test and Bangladesh’s 117th Test.
Earlier, a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Sheikh Hasina and her entourage landed at the NSC Bose International Airport amid tight security.
PM Sheikh Hasina was received at the airport by Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Firhad Hakim, Ganguly, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das.
