ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Security Precautions and Sena Disruptions

 

Should you feel secure at the 2011 ICC ODI World Cup?

Indian authorities feel that you should.

Mumbai police have put in place extraordinary precautions to ensure that there are no disruptions or sabotage of the premier event.

The World Cup final will see snipers positioned on the terraces of the buildings surroundingWankhede stadium.

This is a first.It is an outcome of the 2008 terror attacks in the heart of South Mumbai.

Policemen will be equipped with Special Voice Ducers (SVD)—for effective communication in the midst of high levels of noise.

Plainclothes cops will monitor conversations and movement within the stadium.

All the elaborate arrangements could come to nought if the Pakistani cricket team makes the finals. The Shiv Sena, a militant Hindu party, have hinted at disrupting the final— in the event.

Senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Manohar Joshi said: “Shiv Sena chief  Bal Thackeray will take a call on whether they should be allowed to play in Mumbai.”

The Sena has opposed cricketing action featuring India’s north-west neighbour before.

In 1991, activists dug up the Wankhede pitch two days before a match against Pakistan.

In January 1999, the Ferozeshah Kotla ground was dug up before an India-Pakistan tie.

Mumbai will host three World Cup ties:

March 13: Canada versus New Zealand

March 18: Sri Lanka versus New Zealand

April 2: The World Cup Final.

Quote of the day: 
I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just going to ask them where they’re going and hook up with them later. – Mitch Hedberg

Grand opening ceremony launches cricket World Cup

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.

ICC Cricket World Cup: Pakistani startup develops official World Cup video game

KARACHI: Pakistan may have lost the opportunity to host the International Cricket Council World Cup this year but it has found a way to stay in the game, literally. A Pakistani company has received the exclusive rights to develop the official game for the sporting event.

On February 15 it was announced that a local game developer, MindStorm Studios, has already developed the official game for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The game is available at www.cricketpower.com.

This is the first time a Pakistani game developer has managed to get the licence, beating out leading global game development companies such as Codemasters and EA Sports to design, develop, and deliver the game.

“We are extremely excited about developing the official game for ICC’s Cricket World Cup 2011,” said CEO Mindstorm Studios Babar Ahmed. “Cricket has long been a subject closely linked to our organisation and we are thrilled to take it to the next level,” he said.

While most games are released for personal computers and gaming consoles, this year’s official ICC game will only be available in internet browsers.

The company claims that it will be the most advanced 3D browser cricket game developed to date. Allaying fears of issues due to slow internet connections, Ahmed said that the game will have an online downloadable client that will work well on even slow broadband connections.

Official licencing removes the need for re-naming of players which is generally seen in non-licenced sports games.

An avid cricket gamer, Muhammad Umar, said “There are licencing issues with some games because they do weird stuff to player names like Shoaib Akhtar is renamed Shadid Akhtari and Shahid Afridi becomes Shared Afra.”

Earlier, it was rumoured that Codemasters, the oldest British video game developers, will be releasing the official ICC cricket world cup 2011 game for personal computers, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Codemasters developed International Cricket 2010 and is a veritable behemoth in the gaming field.

Codemasters and EA Sports have traditionally dominated cricket games. However, EA’s last cricket game was in 2007 while International Cricket 2010 was only available on consoles, not personal computers.

Considering the excitement developed by the Codemasters rumour, Mindstorm Studios, the Pakistani game developers have a very impressive set of boots to fill.

Cricket T20 tournaments have made cricket a cash cow. According to a report by the  Business Standard, the brand manager of Mumbai-based Games2Win said that there are six million online gamers from India alone.

ICC WC 2011 Opening Ceremony Video - Cricket World Cup 2011

ICC Cricket World Cup Glamouring Opening Ceremony Photos

ICC Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony Photos

Performers at the opening ceremony of the 2011 World Cup at Dhaka's Bangabandhu Stadium on Thursday.

Rickshaws & rockstars ring in World Cup cricket 2011

The opening ceremony of the World Cup got under way today with the captains of the 14 competing teams parading through Dhaka's historic Bangabandhu Stadium in colourfully draped rickshaws. Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina watched as home skipper Shakib Al Hasan received a rapturous welcome from the packed arena as he arrived at the rear of the unusual parade at the start of the two-hour ceremony.
The event will see around 3,500 performers putting on a colourful show reflecting Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi culture.

It involves Indian singer Sonu Nigam and Bangladesh-based Runa Laila as well as veteran Canadian rocker Bryan Adams.

Dhaka has been spruced up for the World Cup as it seeks to take advantage of a prime opportunity to rebrand a country often known only for devastating floods and cyclones.

The impoverished South Asian nation has spent more than $100 million to tidy up for the tournament it co-hosts with India and Sri Lanka, looking at the showpiece as the biggest event since independence in 1971.

Beggars have been paid to stay off roads, hawkers have been evicted from overcrowded pavements and buildings given a new coat of paint. Efforts have even been made to reduce the infamous traffic jams in the bustling capital.

Even though Bangladesh hosts just eight of the 49 matches at two venues, in Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, the entire nation is in the grip of cricket fever.

"The World Cup has given us a great opportunity to show the world, particularly the global press, that we are not only a country of floods, cyclones or natural disasters," said Ramendu Majumdar, a top branding expert.

2011 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony in Bangladesh

Cricket is a great sport and the Cricket World Cup is the highlight of every cricket lover’s year. This time the event, which is held every four years, will be even more memorable for cricket lovers living in Bangladesh.

On February 18, 2009, Haroon Lorgat, the Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council, announced that the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup will be held in Bangladesh. The event will take place almost exactly two years from now on February 19, 2011, and proceedings will coincide with the opening game which will also take place in Bangladesh on the same day. That is exciting news for both cricket lovers in Bangladesh and the people of the country in general as the move will no doubt generate a lot of tourism and cast a spotlight on the country, hopefully helping to further improve its image and economy.

Haroon Lorgat also said that the number of matches to be played at the fifteen different selected venues had been discussed. It is obvious that the event should be used to bolster local tourism efforts and every endeavor must be made to ensure that it is a massive success. If you would like to combine sport with leisure, you’ll be happy to know that the World Cup will be making its way to either Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Narayanganj Osmani Stadium in Fatullah or the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The final decision as to which stadium will be used for the event is yet to be made.

No doubt, this means that Bandladesh will experience a lot of tourist-related development as city officials try to ensure that it is completely ready to receive this prestigious event and the many tourists that travel with it. Though it is still some time before the 2011 Cricket World Cup takes place, fans would definitely do well to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Visitors from other countries would also do well to take advantage of their trip and explore the country between matches so that they can learn a little bit more about the rich beauty that is to be found in Bangladesh.

Opening ceremony of World Cup 2011 begins in Dhaka

The 10th edition of the 2011 World Cup is underway in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. A total of 14-team are competing in the event along with hosts India and Sri Lanka. After the Bangaladesh national anthem was played out, the captains of respective teams entered the stadium on decorated rickshaws.

India singer Sonu Nigam then entertained the crowd with an English number. 

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams helps kickstart the 2011 cricket World Cup on Thursday at the tournament's opening ceremony, marking the start of a gruelling six-week sporting marathon.

Favourites India will go into the tournament opener against Bangladesh on Saturday in Dhaka in buoyant mood after two wins in their warm-up matches, including a crushing 117-run victory on Wednesday over New Zealand.

ICC CWC Opening Ceremony: LIVE

Ravi Shastri: Let us not discount West Indies. We know what Chris Gayle can do. Having said all that, it's India's best chance to win the ICC CWC.

6 PM IST: Captains are now taking a rickshaw ride across the Bangabandhu Stadium. Ricky Ponting, captain of Australia cricket team is leading the show.

Finally, we are here at the venue as the national anthem written by Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore is being played. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh  Hasina will officially declare the ceremony open.

The soul of Bangladesh since its independence in 1971, the Bangabandhu National Stadium has been testimony to Bangladesh's cricketing exploits since the nation’s entry into the Test cricket arena in 2000. Situated in the heart of old Dhaka, the cricket-crazy nation even saw the tickets for the dress rehearsal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 opening cermeony being sold-out.

All about Dhaka

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The opening ceremony for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 promises to be a cracker and set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

Dhaka is braced for a sizzling opening ceremony tonight as the frenzy revolving around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 reaches fever pitch.

The magnificent Bangabandhu Stadium gala in the Bangladesh capital will host - amongst others - Bryan Adams, leading Bollywood singer, Sonu Nigam and the Indian trinity of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy. Glitz and glamour galore on what promises to be a night to remember.

Not that we should be surprised. ICC opening nights are usually a treat to savour and if the buzz in Dhaka is anything to go by, the 2011 edition will surpass all expectations.

The ICC CWC 2011 anthem, 'De Ghuma Key', has already earned rave reviews from fans, and the Bangabandhu will be a sight to behold once Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy start performing the rather peppy number.

Adams, who is one of the planet's most acclaimed rock stars, will also liven up a night that promises to kick off the ICC CWC on an enthralling note. Indeed, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has already tweeted that he is looking forward to seeing the legend in action.

ICC Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony

All eyes will be on Dhaka, Bangladesh as the co-host nation kicks off the 10th Cricket World Cup. SuperSport will bring you all the festivities from the comfort of your couch on SSHD/SS2 on Thursday 17 February.

DStv viewers can look forward to performances by Summer of 69 hitmaker Bryan Adams. Adding  a Bollywood feel to the proceedings, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will be belting out the official song, De Ghuma Ke.


Be witness to the ICC Cricket World Cup as SuperSport brings you the Opening Ceremony live on your World of Champions on SS2/SSHD at 14:00.

Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony about to begin

Finally, it is time for what the cricket world has been waiting for - the 10th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup to be staged in the sub-continent. Touted as the biggest and the most extravagant event in the cricketing history, the World cup will open in Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka in a two-hour long opening ceremony that promises fanfare and glitterati.

The grand opening ceremony on Thursday, February 17, 2011 will mark the coveted event’s return to the sub-continent after a span of 15 years. This time the cup is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

This is the third time that the world cup is being staged in the sub-continent - the first instance was in 1987 when India and Pakistan came together to host the event out of England. Once again in 1996, India and Pakistan, joined by Sri Lanka, hosted the event successfully.

The current edition will feature 14 teams and 49 matches spread across 13 venues in the three host countries. 29 matches will be played in India along with the final on April 2nd, whereas 12 matches will be played in Sri Lanka and the remaining eight in Bangladesh.

With the inauguration ceremony scheduled in Dhaka, the capital city is geared up to take the centre stage with a two-hour spectacle of song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. To spruce up the occasion, internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams will perform at the stadium.

India, the power house of world cricket, as far as revenue generation and standing is concerned, is being considered as one of the favourites to win the cup.

From the time the first match is played between co-hosts Bangladesh and India, till the final on April 2nd at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, it will be celebration time for cricket fans in the Indian sub-continent.

This world cup is special in one other aspect that many greats of the game unlikely to be seen playing a world cup again, as they are in the twilight of their careers.

The list of stalwarts playing their last world cup includes Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Murlitharan, Paul Collingwood, Shivnarayan Chanderpaul, etc.

However, one man who is going to hog the limelight is none other than our very own Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - one of the greatest batsmen of the world. Having broken the cricketing records of all hues- the world cup is the only alluding achievement that the little master does not have. His fans in India and across the globe would be hoping that his desire comes true this time.

What a fitting send off will it be for the master blaster if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men lift the trophy at Wankhede Stadium. However, till that happens, the cricket fans are going to have a blast with the teams fighting it out for the coveted trophy.

ICC World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony just a few hours away

Finally, it is time for what the cricket world has been waiting for - the 10th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup to be staged in the sub-continent. Touted as the biggest and the most extravagant event in the cricketing history, the World cup will open in Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka in a two-hour long opening ceremony that promises fanfare and glitterati.

The grand opening ceremony on Thursday, February 17, 2011 will mark the coveted event’s return to the sub-continent after a span of 15 years. This time the cup is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

This is the third time that the world cup is being staged in the sub-continent - the first instance was in 1987 when India and Pakistan came together to host the event out of England. Once again in 1996, India and Pakistan, joined by Sri Lanka, hosted the event successfully.

The current edition will feature 14 teams and 49 matches spread across 13 venues in the three host countries. 29 matches will be played in India along with the final on April 2nd, whereas 12 matches will be played in Sri Lanka and the remaining eight in Bangladesh.

With the inauguration ceremony scheduled in Dhaka, the capital city is geared up to take the centre stage with a two-hour spectacle of song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. To spruce up the occasion, internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams will perform at the stadium.

India, the power house of world cricket, as far as revenue generation and standing is concerned, is being considered as one of the favourites to win the cup.

From the time the first match is played between co-hosts Bangladesh and India, till the final on April 2nd at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, it will be celebration time for cricket fans in the Indian sub-continent.

This world cup is special in one other aspect that many greats of the game unlikely to be seen playing a world cup again, as they are in the twilight of their careers.

The list of stalwarts playing their last world cup includes Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Murlitharan, Paul Collingwood, Shivnarayan Chanderpaul, etc.

However, one man who is going to hog the limelight is none other than our very own Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - one of the greatest batsmen of the world. Having broken the cricketing records of all hues- the world cup is the only alluding achievement that the little master does not have. His fans in India and across the globe would be hoping that his desire comes true this time.

What a fitting send off will it be for the master blaster if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men lift the trophy at Wankhede Stadium. However, till that happens, the cricket fans are going to have a blast with the teams fighting it out for the coveted trophy.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Indian team arrives in Dhaka

Indian team led by MS Dhoni on Thursday arrived here amid heavy security arrangements for their World Cup opener against co-hosts Bangladesh on Saturday.

Rapid action battalion commandos and police personnel escorted the 15-member Indian squad to the Sheraton Hotel in two vehicles. The route from the Hazrat Shah Jalal airport to the hotel was heavily guarded by the police.

The grand opening ceremony will take place on Thursday at the Bangabandhu Stadium here, which will be attended by all 14 captains of the participating nations.

The Bangladeshi capital, which has spruced up itself for the biggest event in their cricketing history, will put on a two-hour long spectacle of song, dance and laser shows during the opening ceremony.

In cricket-mad Dhaka, even the dancers’ practice is sold out on ICC Cricket World Cup opening ceremony

In the space of a few furious minutes, a few thousand hands work their way through the narrow opening of the booth, bundles of taka notes clutched between fingers. As the hands are pulled out, their owners unclench their fists, broad smiles on their faces. An 8-inch piece of paper emerges, the word ‘Rehearsal’ on it in bold blue letters.

World Cup fever is yet to hit India fully, but here in Bangladesh, a day before the tournament opening ceremony, it’s a raging epidemic. How else do you explain the selling-out of dancers and singers practising?

Those who got into Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Stadium — venue of tomorrow’s opening ceremony — today must think of themselves as the luckiest citizens of this cricket-mad country. The cricket World Cup, they are saying here with absolutely no hint of hyperbole, is the biggest event since the nation was born in 1971.

Bangladesh ready for opening gala

A family pass by the flags of participating countries of Cricket World Cup in Dhaka Wednesday. Bangladesh has spruced up its capital Dhaka for the World Cup. (AFP)DHAKA: Bangladesh has spruced up its capital Dhaka for the World Cup as it seeks to take advantage of a prime opportunity to rebrand a country often known only for devastating floods and cyclones.
The impoverished South Asian nation has spent more than $100 million to tidy up for the tournament it co-hosts with India and Sri Lanka, looking at the showpiece as the biggest event since independence in 1971.
Beggars have been paid to stay off roads, hawkers have been evicted from overcrowded pavements and buildings given a new coat of paint. Efforts have even been made to reduce the infamous traffic jams in the bustling capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s efforts to forge a new image for the country, whose economy has grown at a hefty rate of six percent annually over the past decade, has won support from private banks and businesses.
“In the present world perspective, sports is not a mere entertainment, rather they help brand a country,” Hasina said at the renovated Bangabandhu National Stadium where Thursday’s opening ceremony takes place.
Canadian singer Bryan Adams will be the star attraction at the opening ceremony, which will also include performances by Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi artistes.

Dhoni ton lifts India
Indian batting, led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s power hitting, forced New Zealand into submission by piling on a massive total and earned the co-host an easy 117-run win in the warm-up game Wednesday.
Dhoni started cautiously but tore apart the New Zealand bowling once he got set, blasting an unbeaten 108 off just 64 balls, with 11 boundaries and three massive sixes.
Gautam Gambhir (89), Virat Kohli (59) and Suresh Raina (50) also chipped in with half-centuries as India amassed a massive 360-5 from 50 overs, after opting to bat first.
New Zealand started on a positive note and took the attack to the Indian pacemen but failed to keep the momentum going once the Indian spinners came into action.
The loss of openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early did not prove costly for India as Gambhir and Kohli laid the foundation for the onslaught with a 106-run partnership for the third wicket.
Dhoni and left-hander Raina, who was under pressure to confirm his place in the team, added 124 runs for the fifth wicket. Raina persished after completing a 26-ball half century. The Indian captain at one point hit seven consecutive boundaries – five off Jacom Oram and two against off-spinner Nathan McCullum – and made the bowlers pay for drifting on to his pads.
The Indian pace attack, without the experienced Zaheer Khan, did not look threatening, and it was left to the spinners to put the brakes on.
Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum added 94 for the opening wicket but New Zealand kept losing wickets at important junctures, making it an impossible chase.
Brendon McCullum’s run out when he started looking threatening did not help either. Spinners Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Yuvraj Singh and left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra all finished with two wickets for India.

Bangladesh ready for opening gala

A family pass by the flags of participating countries of Cricket World Cup in Dhaka Wednesday. Bangladesh has spruced up its capital Dhaka for the World Cup. (AFP)DHAKA: Bangladesh has spruced up its capital Dhaka for the World Cup as it seeks to take advantage of a prime opportunity to rebrand a country often known only for devastating floods and cyclones.
The impoverished South Asian nation has spent more than $100 million to tidy up for the tournament it co-hosts with India and Sri Lanka, looking at the showpiece as the biggest event since independence in 1971.
Beggars have been paid to stay off roads, hawkers have been evicted from overcrowded pavements and buildings given a new coat of paint. Efforts have even been made to reduce the infamous traffic jams in the bustling capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s efforts to forge a new image for the country, whose economy has grown at a hefty rate of six percent annually over the past decade, has won support from private banks and businesses.
“In the present world perspective, sports is not a mere entertainment, rather they help brand a country,” Hasina said at the renovated Bangabandhu National Stadium where Thursday’s opening ceremony takes place.
Canadian singer Bryan Adams will be the star attraction at the opening ceremony, which will also include performances by Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi artistes.

Dhoni ton lifts India
Indian batting, led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s power hitting, forced New Zealand into submission by piling on a massive total and earned the co-host an easy 117-run win in the warm-up game Wednesday.
Dhoni started cautiously but tore apart the New Zealand bowling once he got set, blasting an unbeaten 108 off just 64 balls, with 11 boundaries and three massive sixes.
Gautam Gambhir (89), Virat Kohli (59) and Suresh Raina (50) also chipped in with half-centuries as India amassed a massive 360-5 from 50 overs, after opting to bat first.
New Zealand started on a positive note and took the attack to the Indian pacemen but failed to keep the momentum going once the Indian spinners came into action.
The loss of openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early did not prove costly for India as Gambhir and Kohli laid the foundation for the onslaught with a 106-run partnership for the third wicket.
Dhoni and left-hander Raina, who was under pressure to confirm his place in the team, added 124 runs for the fifth wicket. Raina persished after completing a 26-ball half century. The Indian captain at one point hit seven consecutive boundaries – five off Jacom Oram and two against off-spinner Nathan McCullum – and made the bowlers pay for drifting on to his pads.
The Indian pace attack, without the experienced Zaheer Khan, did not look threatening, and it was left to the spinners to put the brakes on.
Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum added 94 for the opening wicket but New Zealand kept losing wickets at important junctures, making it an impossible chase.
Brendon McCullum’s run out when he started looking threatening did not help either. Spinners Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Yuvraj Singh and left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra all finished with two wickets for India.

Fake ticket scam hits Bangladesh ahead of tourney

Just two days to go before the World Cup officially begins, Bangladesh, one of the three tournament’s hosts, has been hit by a ticketing crisis.

On Tuesday, the owner of a printing press and three of his staff members were arrested for producing fake tickets for the tournament while, on the same day, the warm-up game between Bangladesh and Pakistan was half full because fans could not get into the ground.

Magistrate AHM Anwar Pasha sentenced Gayanath Mazumdar, 52, to two years in jail and fined him Sh114,265 after a tip-off led police to his printing press.

Three other employees were also fined the same amount each, although they will not serve time.

During the raid, it was discovered that the printing press had previously been involved in fake ticketing for concerts and other major events.

Holders of tickets printed at this press would not have had access to match venues because the barcode readers would have rejected them, said Pasha.

Even legitimate ticket holders battled to get into the stadium for the warm-up match because of the systems in place.

Fans who bought the 9,000 vouchers released to a local bank were unable to get their match tickets without first verifying their identity at the stadium.

Proof of purchase

The company handling the ticketing, Kyazoonga, insisted on this process instead of simply issuing the match tickets despite being asked to distribute them without checking names and identification.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked for the tickets to be handed out to voucher holders without any checks because the fact that they were in possession of a voucher was proof of purchase of a ticket.

“I will have to take a look at what happened but it is very unfortunate,” GS Hasan Tamim of BCB’s ticket and seating committee said while giving his assurance that the problem would be solved for the opener between Bangladesh and India on Saturday.

The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 but there were only 14,500 people inside during the game, with thousands more standing outside, waiting to get their tickets.

Bangladesh is hosting six matches, including two quarter-finals, as well as the opening ceremony on Thursday.

Fake ticket scam hits Bangladesh ahead of tourney

Just two days to go before the World Cup officially begins, Bangladesh, one of the three tournament’s hosts, has been hit by a ticketing crisis.

On Tuesday, the owner of a printing press and three of his staff members were arrested for producing fake tickets for the tournament while, on the same day, the warm-up game between Bangladesh and Pakistan was half full because fans could not get into the ground.

Magistrate AHM Anwar Pasha sentenced Gayanath Mazumdar, 52, to two years in jail and fined him Sh114,265 after a tip-off led police to his printing press.

Three other employees were also fined the same amount each, although they will not serve time.

During the raid, it was discovered that the printing press had previously been involved in fake ticketing for concerts and other major events.

Holders of tickets printed at this press would not have had access to match venues because the barcode readers would have rejected them, said Pasha.

Even legitimate ticket holders battled to get into the stadium for the warm-up match because of the systems in place.

Fans who bought the 9,000 vouchers released to a local bank were unable to get their match tickets without first verifying their identity at the stadium.

Proof of purchase

The company handling the ticketing, Kyazoonga, insisted on this process instead of simply issuing the match tickets despite being asked to distribute them without checking names and identification.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked for the tickets to be handed out to voucher holders without any checks because the fact that they were in possession of a voucher was proof of purchase of a ticket.

“I will have to take a look at what happened but it is very unfortunate,” GS Hasan Tamim of BCB’s ticket and seating committee said while giving his assurance that the problem would be solved for the opener between Bangladesh and India on Saturday.

The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 but there were only 14,500 people inside during the game, with thousands more standing outside, waiting to get their tickets.

Bangladesh is hosting six matches, including two quarter-finals, as well as the opening ceremony on Thursday.

Sanga seeks personal improvement in his third World Cup

Kumar Sangakkara was more than once officially ranked as world’s best batsman and he has been held in high esteem among contemporary cricketers. In World Cups, however, Sangakkara has been less than impressive and addressing journalists after Sri Lanka beat West Indies in their final warm up game ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Sri Lankan captain said he’s hoping for an improved performance in his third World Cup. His World Cup average – 30:94, is way below the career average of 36:86 and in 21 World Cup matches the Sri Lankan captain has managed just four half-centuries.

"You always want to do well in big tournaments and in big games. This is my third World Cup. In my first World Cup in South Africa I batted at number nine, seven and five. When you are more settled in the line up it gets a bit easier, but there is always room for improvement. I just want to kick on and do as well as I can, score as many runs and keep wickets as well and make sure my contribution on the field adds value to the team," Sangakkara said.

The Sri Lankan captain will have a hectic schedule ahead of his team’s first game against Canada as he was supposed to travel to Bangladesh on Wednesday and return home after Friday’s Opening Ceremony in Dhaka and will immediately travel to Hambantota to catch up with his team-mates ahead of Sunday’s game.

"The Manager and I will be going to Dhaka. We are leaving tomorrow and will be back on the 18th and will be flying to Hambantota. It’s going to be a hectic couple of days before the first game, but that’s something the ICC expects us to do," he said.

Batting second at R. Premadasa Stadium has been a challenging task in the last four years or so, but after the wickets were relayed, Sangakkara said there was a marked improvement. "The wicket was much better than we expected it to be. They put a lot of work in. When we started three weeks ago, they asked us not to play any cricket on this so that they could prepare the wickets and that hard work has paid off. There’s good bounce, enough turn and all in all a good track to bat on."

He also said that the team needed to improve in certain areas particularly giving away too many runs in the first 15 overs. "Preparation wise there is still a lot of work to be done although we don’t have much time. The first 15 overs today were not good enough. For World Cup cricket we need to make sure that we are focused. We can’t allow 100 runs off the first 11 or 12 overs."