Canopy at Uppal stadium collapsed due to strong winds

 Telangana | Written by : Suryaa Desk Updated: Tue, Apr 23, 2019, 03:27 PM

The euphoria lasted a few hours before strong winds could possibly blow away the hopes of Hyderabad hosting the IPL final on May 12. The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced on Monday that the final will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal on the said date but few hours later the city experienced rain and strong winds that ripped apart some portion of the canopy at the Southern Stand of the Stadium.


However, there could be second thoughts whether to hold the final now. An inspection by the BCCI officials on extent of the damage would possibly decide the fate of May 12 grand finale. Meanwhile, the city is scheduled to host the seventh and final league match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab on April 29.


The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) will be keeping their fingers crossed because of the unexpected turn of events. 


The much-need canopies to give protection to the spectators at the Southern and Northern stands of the Stadium were installed in 2012 but ran into controversy because of alleged misappropriation of funds in connection with the construction of the structure.


The city had witnessed unseasonal rains accompanied by gale-winds on Monday that also brought down one of the four massive floodlight towers near the tennis court at Lal Bahadur Stadium.