Spectacular opening ceremony launches cricket World Cup

Dhaka (PTI) - Rock star Bryan Adams provided the
sparks as a dazzling opening ceremony, showcasing a vibrant
blend of sub-continental traditions and modernity, on Thursday
launched the 10th edition of the cricket World Cup, setting
the stage for 43 days of high-voltage cricketing extravaganza.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the
event open amid thundering cheers from a packed crowd at the
renovated Bangabandhu stadium, marking the return of the
showpiece event to the sub-continent after a gap of 15 years.
The evening sky lit up with spectacular fireworks as the
high-profile 14-team competition was declared open in front of
a host of dignitaries and top ICC and Cricket Board officials.
Captains of all the 14 participating nations got an
unforgettable ride on tri-cycles while music, folk songs and
dances, breath-taking fireworks and the collective enthusiasm
of the Bangladeshi capital ushered in the event in a two-hour
spectacle.
Bryan Adams' mesmerising act was the highlight of the
show that also had Indian musicians Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy belting
out the World Cup theme song 'De Ghuma Ke' composed by the
trio.
Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam and top Bangladeshi
vocalists -- Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin and Mumtaz -- also
crooned in front of a capacity crowd which was treated to a
musical extravaganza in three languages -- English, Hindi and
Bangla.
Singer Ebrar Tipu and others set the tone for the evening
as he arrived in a bedecked car to sing the welcome song, "O
Prithibi, Ebar Eshey Banglake Nao Chiney…" (Hey world, come
and know Bangladesh).
All the 14 captains came into the arena on decorated
rickshaws with Australian captain Ricky Ponting coming in
first followed by the other captains.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni drew a loud applause
while the biggest cheer was reserved for host captain Shakib
Al Hasan as he waved to the crowd.
After all the captains assembled on the specially erected
dias, Indian singer Sonu Nigam then rendered the "Spirit of
Cricket' song.
After the speeches by top officials, including ICC
President Sharad Pawar who spoke a few lines in Bangla,
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the event
open, setting the stage for Adams and other celebrated
artistes to enthrall the audience.
A breath-taking aerial cricket match, played horizontally
on a building, kept the spectators spellbound.
Nearly 2,100 school and college students and 350 members
of the Armed Forces presented a cultural programme depicting
the glorious Language Movement, War of Liberation,
Bangladesh’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's
historic March 7 speech, Bangla New Year and traditional dance
of the indigenous communities.
Adams then took centrestage with some of his all-time
hits like "Lets make it a night to remember", "Summer of '69",
and "18 till I die" among others.
Barely 10 years after being given the Test status, it was
a giant leap for Bangladesh as a nation as the minnows, known
to pull off stunning wins in big events, hosted perhaps the
biggest sporting show so far in their history.
Two days later, Bangladesh and co-hosts India will clash
in the inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in
Mirpur to herald the beginning of 43 days of action spread
across 13 venues in three countries.
The other host country, Sri Lanka start off their
campaign against lowly Canada in a Group A encounter in
Colombo on Sunday.
The sub-continent had its first date with the World Cup
when India and Pakistan hosted it in 1987 before Sri Lanka
joined them in 1996.
Sub-continent, for all practical purposes, is the nerve
centre of the game now, though 1992 champions Pakistan could
not be one of the co-hosts due to the terror attacks that
targetted touring Sri Lankan cricketers in 2009.
But Bangladesh will be having one big party in their
silver jubilee year of initiation into one-day cricket.
The tenth edition of cricket's quadrennial showpiece,
featuring 14 teams and 49 matches -- 29 in India, a dozen in
Sri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh -- was not devoid of
controversies.
It had a nightmare of an initial road as Pakistan was
stripped of the right to host 14 matches due to the volatile
condition in the country though the country will get its share
of revenue even without holding games.
There were minor hiccups even after that when Kolkata's
historic Eden Gardens lost the hosting rights for the February
27 India-England clash after the ICC found the venue
ill-prepared.
With any marquee match involving India not scheduled in
the Eden after the ICC shifted teh India-England match to
Bangalore, cricket lovers will not see the stadium at its
magnificent best as not many can be expected in the one
lakh-capacity venue for non-India match.
On current form and considering the conditions, India
have been billed favourites by cricket experts and it would be
a huge celebration for Indian fans if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's
men lift the trophy on April 2 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
It would add to India's muscle-flexing power as cricket's
financial centre.
A World Cup win by India will also ensure the iconic
batsman Sachin Tendulkar the only success that has eluded him
in his illustrious over-two-decade-long international career,
besides India bringing home the trophy after 28 years.