India v Bangladesh 1st Game ICC World Cup – India seek revenge

India who lost their last game against Bangladesh in the last edition of World Cup will search for the revenge when they take on them in front of their supportive home crowd. Bangladesh ensured India's early exit in the first round of the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean and Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is determined to avoid any repeat on the subcontinent.

This time M.S.Dhoni team is much different than it was in 2007 under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid or we can say the Greg Chappel who divided the team in more than two parts which resulted in an early exit from the tournament. However, this time around the teams look more solid and eager to win than before.

The batting demolition of New Zealand in Chennai followed a 38-run victory over three-time defending champion Australia on Sunday in Bangalore, achieved thanks to a superb effort from spinners Piyush Chawla and Harbhajan Singh.

The pace attack led by Zaheer Khan may have to concede the bulk of the work to the slow bowlers, with several part-time options also at India's disposal, while there is a problem of plenty in the batting department.

Indian batting order will much depend on the start given by likes of Sachin, Sehwag, Kohli and Gambhir. If any two of them able to build the Indian inning in the middle overs by keeping wicket in hand then Dhoni, Yuvraj and Pathan can blast any attack out of the park. 

Indian team who is carrying the hopes of billion on their shoulder needs to perform as per their potential to make the hopes of billions count in their opening game against Bangladesh.

Pitch & Conditions

The Pitch at Mirpur is likely to get support spinners and will also provide some help to the fat bowlers. Team winning the toss is likely to bat first and put runs in excess of 275 on the board to put pressure on the opposition.

Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 14:00 PM India Time)

Bangladesh who heavily relies on spin is likely to go with two pace bowlers and three pace attacks with additional spinning all-rounder in their squad. So far they have done great with the help of their spinning options and they know to beat India in their back yard they need something special from their bowling attacks.

On the other hand India have already decided on the playing XI with Virat Kohli is in prime form they are likely to go with him that means Suresh Raina will heat the bench against the much awaited World Cup inaugural game. In the bowling department Zaheer Khan is likely to lead the pace attack along with Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel with Harbhajan Singh leading the spin department along with spinning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan.

India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.

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.

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."

Simulcast of the Opening Ceremony of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 on ESPN, STAR Sports and STAR Cricket

ESPN STAR Sports, ICC's Global Broadcast & Production Partner, will broadcast live India's preparatory matches against Australia and New Zealand as the team in blue gets ready for the ultimate battle in Cricket supremacy - the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
India takes on Australia on February 13th, 2011 while New Zealand-India encounter is scheduled for February 16th, 2011. Both the matches and the Opening Ceremony of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be broadcast live on ESPN, STAR Sports and STAR Cricket

ESPN STAR Sports' bouquet of networks including ESPN, STAR Sports & STAR Cricket will telecast all the 49 matches of the ICC World Cup 2011 starting on February 19, 2011. There will be special simulcast in Hindi commentary on STAR Sports for the benefit of Hindi speaking audiences.

ESPN STAR Sports has made elaborate arrangements for the live telecast of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The pre- and post-match shows will be hosted in ESPN STAR Sports' signature style by iconic ex-players and legends of the game, while live broadcast will feature as many as 30 commentators & studio experts from leading participating countries. List of commentators from different countries include:

India: Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Sanjay Manjrekar
England: David Lloyd, Michael Atherton, Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain, Mark Nicholas, Alan Wilkins
Pakistan: Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja
New Zealand: Simon Doull, Danny Morrison
West Indies: Ian Bishop, Tony Cozier
Sri Lanka: Russel Arnold
Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell, Pommie Mbangwa
South Africa: Pat Symcox, Robin Jackman, Lance Klusener
Australia: Ian Chappell, Tony Greig, Tom Moody
Bangladesh: Athar Ali Khan, Shamim Chowdhury

Harsha Bhogle, Dermot Reeve & Simon Hughes will be based exclusively out of the studio.

All set for World Cup fiesta

The cricket World Cup extravaganza is set to open with all razzmatazz in the Bangladesh capital city of Dhaka on Thursday.

Promising to be a grand gala event, the opening ceremony begins at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here at 5:50pm. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will declare open the biggest cricket event, co-hosted by Bangladesh for the first time.

In the first phase of the five-part ceremony, the captains and the members of the 14 participating teams will stage a march in the stadium.

Singer Ebrar Tipu will arrive in a bedecked car to sing the welcome song, "O Prithibi, Ebar Eshey Banglake Nao Chiney…" (Hey world, come and know Bangladesh).

Recital of the close to six-minute welcome song, written by Zulfiqar Russell, has been composed by Ebrar and his group. Mila and Elita will sing the English version of the song.

The opening ceremony will feature the history of Bangladesh, starting since the 1952 Language Movement until the 1971 Liberation War, depicted through various types of choreography, songs and laser show.

Globally-acclaimed Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams, India's Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahdevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy, and Bangladesh's Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Momtaz will also perform at the event.

Theme song "De Ghumma Ke…" will be recited in four languages. The troika of music directors Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy from Bollywood has composed the song.

Indian artistes will stage a performance, "Symphony of Colours" and Sri Lankan artistes will present "The Pearl of Indian Ocean".

A dance performance under the direction of Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibly Mohammad follows next.

Around 2,100 school and college students and 350 members of the Armed Forces will present a cultural programme depicting the glorious Language Movement, War of Liberation, independent architect Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7 speech, Bangla New Year and traditional dance of the indigenous communities.

It has been directed by Indian choreographer Santosh Sethji.

Bryan Adam will render two songs, while Sonu Nigam will sing songs in praise of the participating countries.

After that, a 60-foot dais will roll into the stadium with Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila and Mamtaz singing a song. They will sing for nine minutes in medley style.

Finally, Shankar Mahdevan will enter the stadium in a decorated car and sing the theme song again.

The opening ceremony will end with Chinese fireworks.

Bangladesh is holding the World Cup tournament in association with India and Sri Lanka.

Hosts hope global gathering repairs their reputations

In Bangladesh, beggars have been paid to keep off the streets, £60m has been spent giving buildings a new lick of paint and Bryan Adams, along with 3,000 folk dance performers, is busily limbering up for the opening ceremony. In Sri Lanka, officials at Hambantota are hoping monsoon rains hold off and do not spoil their careful preparations in the home district of the country's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. In India, where cricket is followed like nowhere else on earth, locals are praying that the nation can secure the title and by doing so provide the only piece of silverware missing from the trophy cabinet of the sporting deity that is known as Sachin Tendulkar.

The 2011 Cricket World Cup officially gets underway today, with the 51-year-old Canadian rocker Adams headlining the opening event in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. The tournament's first match takes place two days later in the city's Sher-e-Bangla stadium when Bangladesh take on India (one of the hosts' opening games, therefore, strangely being played abroad).

Across the three south Asian nations hosting the tournament – Pakistan was to have been the fourth but that changed following the 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team – anticipation has been building. It is true that the buzz is not as feverish as some may have expected, but officials believe that once the games start, so the excitement will grow. "It's more than a smell of cricket in the nostrils. It has a tear-gas effect," wrote the former Indian player Ravi Shastri, the man named player of the tournament in 1983 when India won the event and triggered a new wave of one-day mania across the country. "Everything around us has been sprayed with the World Cup coming up. Everyone is hoping it lives up to its billing."

Glitzy opening ceremony to usher in World Cup

The ICC Cricket World Cup is set to be ushered in with a grand opening ceremony here on Thursday as the game's showpiece event returns to the sub-continent after 15 years, shrugging off the controversy of Eden Gardens being stripped off a marquee match, involving co-hosts India.

The Bangladeshi capital, which has spruced up itself for the biggest event in their cricketing history, will take centrestage of the cricketing world with a two-hour spectacle of song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams, Indian singing trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Sonu Nigam will be among the performers to set the stage for the tournament, reflecting the increasing role the entertainment aspect has started to be associated with the game.

Two days later, Bangladesh and co-hosts India clash in the inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur, on Dhaka's outskirts 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.

It is befitting that the World Cup will be held in the sub-continent this time when the region establishes itself as the nerve centre of the game, though 1992 champions Pakistan will not be one of the co-hosts and Bangladesh will be in the 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 its rights to host 14 matches due to the volatile condition in the country, mainly after attack on the Sri Lankan players in Lahore in early 2009 though it will get its share of revenue even without holding matches.

The reasons for stripping Pakistan of the World Cup matches by the ICC had nothing much to do with the country's cricket board but it could not be said in the case of Indian authorities who failed to prepare the iconic Eden Gardens ready for the February 27 match between India and England.

With any marquee match involving India not scheduled in the Eden after the ICC shifted the India-England match to Bangalore, cricket lovers will not see the stadium in its magnificent best with nearly one lakh people turning up for a World Cup game and it is pity for a venue of such a fame.

On current form and considering the conditions, India have been billed as the top 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 aura to its already 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.

Source:NDTV.com

Cricket-mad Dhaka, even the dancers’ practice is sold out

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.
Source:IndianExpress.com

Opening ceremony to usher in World Cup

Cricket World Cup is set to beushered in with a grand opening ceremony here tomorrow as thegame''s showpiece event returns to the sub-continent after 15years, shrugging off the controversy of Eden Gardens beingstripped off a marquee match, involving co-hosts India.

Buzz up!
The Bangladeshi capital, which has spruced up itself forthe biggest event in their cricketing history, will takecentrestage of the cricketing world with a two-hour spectacleof song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu NationalStadium.


Internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams andIndian singing trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will be among theperformers to set the stage for the tournament, reflecting theincreasing role the entertainment aspect has started to beassociated with the game.

Two days later, Bangladesh and co-hosts India clash inthe inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium atMirpur, on Dhaka''s outskirts to herald the beginning of 43days of action spread across 13 venues in three countries.

The other host country Sri Lanka start off their campaignagainst lowly Canada in a Group A encounter in Colombo onSunday.

The sub-continent had its first date with the World Cupwhen India and Pakistan hosted it in 1987 before Sri Lankajoined them in 1996.

It is befitting that the World Cup will be held in thesub-continent this time when the region establishes itself asthe nerve centre of the game, though 1992 champions Pakistanwill not be one of the co-hosts and Bangladesh will be in theparty in their silver jubilee year of initiation into one-daycricket.

The tenth edition of cricket''s quadrennial showpiece,featuring 14 teams and 49 matches -- 29 in India, a dozen inSri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh -- was not devoid ofcontroversies.

It had a nightmare of an initial road as Pakistan wasstripped of its rights to host 14 matches due to the volatilecondition in the country, mainly after attack on the SriLankan players in Lahore in early 2009 though it will get itsshare of revenue even without holding matches.

The reasons for stripping Pakistan of the World Cupmatches by the ICC had nothing much to do with the country''scricket board but it could not be said in the case of Indianauthorities who failed to prepare the iconic Eden Gardensready for the February 27 match between India and England.
Source: OneIndia.in

Sanga and Anura to repreent Lanka at WC opening ceremony

The city of Dhaka will come alive when the tenth edition of the International Cricket council (ICC) 2011 World Cup opening ceremony unfolds with a glittering pageant at the Bangabandhu National Stadium tomorrow. A capacity crowd of over 36,000 are expected to flock to the stadium for this mega event which will also be telecasted to a worldwide audience 220 nations around the globe.

Sri Lanka will be represented by captain Kumar Sangakkara and Manager Anura Tennekoon during the opening ceremony as they look to focus their attention on their opening fixture against Canada on Sunday. World renowned Canadian pop singer Bryan Adams will be performing at the opening ceremony along with his summer of 69 hit which is certain to make this event an unforgettable experience. Bryan Adams is the only western artists who will be performing at this gala event along with several other artists from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. In addition the official song of the ICC World Cup will be sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Divya Kumar.

The official song of the ICC World Cup will be sung in three different languages Hindi, Bangla and Sinhala. This is the first time that the World Cup opening ceremony is held in Bangladesh which is also one of the host nations along with India and Sri Lanka. The ICC has sold the rights for broadcasting of the 2011 Cricket World Cup for around US$ 2 billion to ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket who have made elaborate arrangements for the live telecast of the opening ceremony from Dhaka.

The World Cup opening ceremony will have a great amount of significance as this will be one of the biggest events that Bangladesh will be hosting since gaining independence in 1971. The impoverished South Asian nation has also spent more than $100 million to tidy up for the tournament as they look to take advantage of a prime opportunity to rebrand a country often known only for devastating floods and cyclones.

Opening ceremony of ICC World Cup Cricket in Dhaka

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament will begin today evening with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the month long event with matches set to be played in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Chairman of the Media Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Mr. Mohammed Jalal Yunus told All India Radio that the inaugural ceremony show will be of two hours 15 minutes duration with three main segments showcasing the cultural heritage of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in addition to a special performance by rock star Bryan Adams. More for our Dhaka Correspondent
Dhaka is all decked up with lights and flowers to welcome the world for cricket’s biggest tournament. All eyes are on the Bangabandhu National Stadium which will stand witness to another milestone in the country’s cricket history by hosting the world Cup for the first time. The magnificent ceremony will have a segment showcasing Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war and the 1952 Language Movement through various forms of dances, songs, choreography and dazzling laser show. Apart from this there will be segment celebrating India’s culture called 'Symphony of Colours' while the spectators will get a glimpse of
Srilankan culture in the segment 'The Pearl of Indian Ocean'. In addition to this there will be a colourful show of LED kites before the opening ceremony concludes with a spectacular show of fireworks to mark the beginning of the month long cricket tournament in the sub continent.

Bangladesh thrilled over the use of technology for Cricket World Cup

Fourteen captains will lead their teams into the 2011 World Cup with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) assurance they are more protected against umpiring howlers than any of their predecessors.

The Decision Review System (DRS) will make its World Cup debut this year even though the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) believes the technology is far from foolproof.

One country happy with the move is Bangladesh. They open the 14-nation tournament on Saturday when they host India in a potentially explosive Group B clash in Dhaka, and coach Jamie Siddons fanned the flames when he said: "The review system is fantastic. I think we have always complained that we get the rough end of the deal."

According to statistics from the ICC, the technology that allows players to challenge on-field umpires' decision through a review system improves correct decision-making to more than 97 per cent, from 92 per cent.

But the introduction of technology - where a third umpire checks video footage - has not been without hitches.

"We don't accept this technology. We are not going to use it in any bilateral series," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said.

"The World Cup is an ICC event and if ICC decide to use it, they obviously can."

At the World Cup, each team will have two challenges to overturn the on-field umpires' decision. As long as the challenges are successful, they will have two throughout the innings, until they make two failed challenges.

Former fast bowler and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said: "Once you get into the quarter-final you don't want any bad decision to really put teams out of the tournament. It's not a good way to go." Reuters

Proteas put down a marker for World Cup

There must have been a sense of deja vu for some South Africans on Tuesday when their team beat Australia for only the second time at a Cricket World Cup.

It might have been only a practice game, but for the Proteas any win over the Aussies is one to be treasured.

South Africa lost by five wickets to Australia at the 1999 World Cup, then agonisingly tied in the semifinals when Allan Donald and Lance Klusener got their calling mixed up.

The two did not meet in the 2003 tournament when South Africa, as hosts, were bundled out in a Duckworth-Lewis calculation bungle.

In the last World Cup, played in the Caribbean in 2007, Australia twice beat them, by 83 runs in the first round and by seven wickets in the semifinals.

The only victory for South Africa came in their first-ever World Cup game and there was one striking similarity with that 1992 win and the one on Tuesday in Bangalore.

In 1992, Allan Donald clearly had Australian opening batsman Geoff Marsh caught at slip with this first ball of the match. A stunned umpire turned down the appeals, but conceded his mistake afterwards. Nevertheless, South Africa went on to win by nine wickets.

On Tuesday, the umpire got it right in the first over the match from Dale Steyn when he trapped Shane Watson LBW.

Watson, currently Australia's best cricketer, had come out of a successful series against England and was in fine form. But not good enough to keep out Steyn's fourth ball.

Australia's dismissal for 217, made up largely by 158 from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, was always an easy total to overhaul and South Africa turned it into a humiliation, with Graeme Smith walking off after he'd made 65, to be followed soon afterwards by Hashim Amla - just so that the other batsmen in the team could have a go.

During the South African innings, there were despairing appeals from Australia for LBW or caught behind, every one of them dismissed by the umpires.

The closest the Aussies got to a real wicket was the run out of Faf du Plessis.

Not that either team were making a big deal of the outcome.

"We're not reading too much into the fact that it was Australia that we beat, for us the warm-up matches were about gaining confidence and preparation ahead of the start of the tournament," said Amla. "It is always a boost to get a win but for the team it was about getting our processes right.

"The intensity of all three disciplines; batting, bowling and fielding, has been really high and we are satisfied with what we have achieved during the warm-up matches."

Australian vice-captain Clarke dismissed his team's disappointing form in the warm-up games after Australia also lost to India on Sunday.

"We all understand that they are practice games. It's more about giving the boys an opportunity than about winning," said Clarke.

"A practice game is a practice game. So it's important to maximise the chance to give everybody the opportunity to bat and bowl, and more importantly, to get used to the conditions."

Gala opening ceremony today

The biggest event in the game — the World Cup — returns to its new power centre, the Indian sub-continent, for the third time with a gala opening ceremony on Thursday.

Amid tight security, Dhaka is all set to usher in 43 days of riveting action spread across 13 venues in three countries with a mesmerising 135-minute routine of song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

On Saturday, Bangladesh and co-host India clash in the inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here.

The other host country Sri Lanka starts off its campaign against Canada in a Group ‘A' encounter in Colombo on Sunday. Of the three South Asian neighbours, India has organised the event with Pakistan in 1987, while Sri Lanka joined the duo as the 1996 host. For first time co-host Bangladesh, the honour has coincided with a historic occasion, as 2011 marks the silver jubilee of its first ever ODI game against Pakistan in 1986.

The World Cup, featuring 14 teams and 49 matches has not been without its share of controversies. Terrorism, the tardy pace of preparations and the weather proved major hindrances.
Source:The Hindu

World Cup special: Capital gains for them all

With just two days left for World Cup action to begin, the spinoffs industry is on overdrive. Preparations started months in advance and as the clock ticks to D-Day, there's frenzy across sections of society and industry that feed off and feed into the hype. The World Cup in India is a multi-million dollar enterprise. And as the on-field battles begin, there will be many other battles taking place outside the playing arena. Boria Majumdar takes a look at what is happening around the World Cup at home and across the South Asian diaspora.

RACE FOR TRPs

The World Cup is a high TRP news event for which leading news channels have been preparing for months. For them, it is India's biggest news event of February-March 2011. Most channels have assembled their own teams for the cup, each packed with reputed cricketers and presenters who will be expected to keep viewers engaged for the 44 days of the tournament. With each channel putting together four dedicated shows during the extravaganza, this is a battle that will be fought with considerable intensity and verve. Strategies are of paramount importance. How to stand out from the others, what more to give to viewer and how to ensure that the channel gets extra eyeballs - these are questions being debated ad nauseam at channel edit meetings. Making the most of the situation are cricketers of varying stock from around the world. They are being paid between $800-1500 a day for their services and stand to earn Rs 20-25 lakh during the course of the tournament.

CUP VERSUS IPL


Over the last couple of weeks, multiple new advertisements have made their way to our drawing rooms and a series of new hoardings are ready to greet us on the roads. Every corporate in India, big or small, is looking to harness the World Cup and the IPL - back-to-back spectacles that will occupy centrestage till May 28, 2011. Perhaps the only debate among advertisers is which among the two is a safer investment option. With the unsavoury experience of World Cup 2007 continuing to haunt them, some corporates have opted to bet on the IPL. The argument is simple. In the IPL, all teams are Indian. So, unlike the World Cup, there's no danger of India crashing out early in the tournament, leaving advertisers in the lurch. Others have tended to disagree. With the World Cup format tailored to ensure India is a sure entrant into the quarter finals, many regard World Cup 2007 to be an aberration. For them, an assured Indian presence till at least the quarter-final stage - that is, till March 24 - is enough to make the World Cup an economic success. The winner in this battle between international and domestic cricket will only be decided once the IPL ends on May 28. But it surely time for the umpires to call play.

TAPPING THE DIASPORA


While the World Cup fever is peaking at home, the vibrant South Asian diaspora worldwide isn't immune to it either. Most prominent among them are the South Asian communities in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. In New York and Chicago, for example, World Cup viewing packages are a rage. Paying a couple of hundred dollars to watch the entire cup isn't a big deal and communal cup viewing in areas of South Asian concentration will soon become a reality in the American east coast. Canada isn't holding back either. Restaurants on Gerrard Street in Toronto are promoting World Cup fares and almost all of them have special cup rates and menus to attract clients for the next month-and-a-half. In Australia, almost all ethnic Indian newspapers have brought out World Cup special issues. With desi advertisers backing them up with advertisements, these issues, distributed at Indian spice stores, are doing their bit to promote the cup fever. In the UK too such activities have gathered pace over the past month. Many student hostels have subscribed to World Cup packages and in almost all of them an extra television set has been installed to avoid clashes with dedicated EPL viewers.

GREAT PITCH FOR TOURISM


Unlike the Commonwealth Games where negative publicity resulted in a dwindling of tourist interest in the event, the World Cup is the flavour of the season among Indian tour operators around the world. Many in America's Silicon Valley have created dedicated match packages - comprising twothree high-profile India matches -- for Indian software professionals working in the area. Travel agents in Australia and UK are busy fine tuning the tours they have put together for clients and for many last-minute shift in venues have caused serious problems. For example, bookings for over a 100 rooms at the Oberoi hotel in Kolkata has just been cancelled, a fallout of India-England match being shifted from Kolkata to Bengaluru. Some travel operators are still encouraging their clients to travel to Kolkata and are in turn booking them on a domestic flight from Kolkata to Bengaluru. The argument being given is that you get to see an extra Indian city at little extra cost. It's estimated that at least 15,000 international tourists will travel to India during the World Cup, giving cricket tourism a much needed boost.

RADIO GOES GAGA


With the tele-visual and the print medium doing all it can to appropriate the world cup, radio too isn't being left behind. Leading radio stations like Mirchi are launching innovative world cup contests for the best cricket jockey, a contest that has resulted in unprecedented interest among cricket fans. Prospective jocks are being encouraged to send in clips of their commentary and shortlists are being drawn up by experts with the winning jock getting to host world cup shows right through the world cup. While generating employment and unearthing new talent on the one hand, these initiatives also demonstrate the incredible currency of cricket across the country. It is, well and truly, India's single biggest national unifier.

THE HEAT IS ONLINE


As millions get ready to follow the cup online, the digital space has witnessed feverish activity over the past couple of weeks. World Cup communities are already raising the pitch on Facebook and Twitter, and dedicated cup sites have come up almost overnight. The most important challenge for all these sites is to provide real-time information, ensuring that traffic to these sites remains high.

A website that is one of ICC's official sponsors is likely to have an initial advantage. ICC's lawyers are already engaged in trying to ensure that World Cup piracy is minimized. With a huge number of pirated sites broadcasting cup action live it is a challenge that cricket's apex body faces to ensure its sponsors aren't cheated of potential revenue. These sites often disappear without a trace if they are tracked down, resulting in legal action against them an almost impossible task. In general, however, there's enough interest in the cup for other websites, especially news portals, to ensure that a steady stream of traffic keeps coming their way.

APPETIZING FARE


As the tournament gets ready to move across the subcontinent, foodies can also prepare for their very special World Cup moments to savour. From pubs and restaurants in India to eateries across the border in Dhaka and Colombo, the cricket fever has encouraged chefs to include a special World Cup fare in the menus. In Dhaka, several food joints have named new dishes after stars like Shakib and Tamim, as well as the entire team. The opening India-Bangladesh match is perhaps Dhaka's biggest social event so far in 2011. Managing a ticket to the game makes you an instant celebrity. With millions catching the action on television, it is likely they will throng the restaurants and watch the match on communal giant screens, as they pray for another upset from the home team. Bangladeshis are being urged to wear the team's World Cup cap as a way of getting behind their boys who are clearly the underdogs in the encounter. The match is the perfect holiday for the cricket-crazy nation. Eat, relax and watch is the mantra that Bangladeshis are gradually taking to in the run-up to the big day.

NEIGHBOURHOOD CUPS


In the Sunday before the World Cup, the number of para (neighbourhood) cricket tournaments in Kolkata alone was no less than 25. Each locality in the city is looking to unearth its own cricketing hero as the cup action takes over, despite Eden Gardens losing its marquee encounter. Tournaments start at 7.30am in the morning and are played through the day with the final on most occasions being a night affair. Usually, 12 to 16 teams make up the draw and entry fees of Rs 1,000 is the average. Eight-a-side games with 8-10 overs per side contests last for an hour each with no less than a thousand or more people gathering to watch the local heroes in action. The winners are instant celebrities and with corporates encouraging these initiatives, the prizes on offer are often spectacular. Schools and colleges too are not falling behind and many have seen the organization of inter /intra school/college tournaments over the last couple of weeks. These tournaments will continue all through March and have been planned in a way so that they do not clash with key World Cup games in the preliminary stage of the competition. Jockeys are hired for a running commentary and innovative scoring patterns and rules put a premium on cricketing skill in these tournaments.

SCORING ON PRINT RUNS


As with every major event, the World Cup too has brought in its wake a series of cup-specific books. From Sach written by senior journalist Gautam Bhattacharyya and launched amidst much fanfare by the Indian skipper in Bangalore, to Suvam Pal's 501 Things About Sachin Tendulkar That You Didn't Know, published by Harper Collins - Tendulkar is clearly the flavour of the season as far as publishers are concerned. Pal's book is brimming with trivia. From the name of the umpire who did duty when Sachin and Kambli scored their unbeaten 664-run partnership to how many times Sachin and Saurav were together when Sachin reached one of his career milestones, it is a dictionary on the maestro that the publisher hopes will be lapped up by Sachin fans during the cup fever. A lot of of books in Indian languages have also been timed to cash in on the frenzy and every magazine has joined the World Cup bandwagon with their own special issues. That's more reading material around than even the most passionate enthusiast can handle.
Source:Timesofindia

Cricket: India seek to break hosts' curse

India are well used to carrying the hopes of millions of cricket fans but now they will also try to overturn the weight of history by becoming the first main host nation to win the World Cup.

Home advantage is supposed to count for something in many sports but not so when it comes to winning the World Cup where individual brilliance or mathematical error have left those staging the party having to watch someone else walk away with the best present.

England hosted the first three World Cups, starting with the inaugural edition in 1975 and their best-effort saw them finish runners-up to a star-studded West Indies side in 1979.

The pioneers of one-day cricket, England reached the semi-finals in 1975 only to come up against inspired Australia all-rounder Gary Gilmour.

Left-arm paceman Gilmour made the most of a helpful Headingley pitch by taking six wickets for 14 runs as England collapsed to 93 all out and so became the first bowler to take six wickets in a one-day international.

Australia slumped in turn to 39 for six only for Gilmour to defy them with the bat in a match-clinching 28 not out.

Four years later England went one better but this time were undone by the West Indies.

Batting great Viv Richards hammered an unbeaten 138 and shared a century stand with Collis King, whose 86 turned the tide in his side's favour.

England openers Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott made a solid start in reply but, chasing 287 for victory, they couldn't keep up with the rate.

West Indies' giant fast bowler, Joel Garner, produced several unplayable yorkers in a five-wicket haul that ended England's slim chances of victory.

There was no third time lucky for England when an unheralded Indian side, the eventual champions, beat them by six wickets in the 1983 semi-final.

The first sub-continental World Cup in 1987 was set up to produce an India-Pakistan final.

But it was Australia and England, who made it into a final won by an emerging Aussie side after they each defeated the Asian giants in their respective semi-finals.

Australia were indebted to fast bowler Craig McDermott's fine return of five for 44 as they beat Pakistan by 18 runs in Lahore while England's Graham Gooch swept India's spinners to distraction in a match-winning 115.

Australia and New Zealand shared the staging of the World Cup in 1992 and this time around Allan Border's men couldn't even make it to the semi-finals.

New Zealand, led by Martin Crowe, did get to the last four only to see Inzamam-ul-Haq, then only 22, hit a 37-ball 60 in Auckland that set Pakistan up for victory over England in the final.

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the joint hosts for the 1996 World Cup. India beat Pakistan in the quarter-finals but then lost to Sri Lanka in the last four after match referee Clive Lloyd awarded the game to the islanders after riots in Kolkata.

Sri Lanka, captained by combative skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, beat Australia in a day/night final in Lahore.

When the Word Cup returned to England in 1999, the hosts were eliminated before the tournament song had reached record-store shelves.

South Africa too failed to get out of the group stage in 2003 when a miscalculation saw them think they'd clinched victory in a rain-affected must win game against Sri Lanka when in fact they'd only tied.

West Indies did at least reach the Super Eights in 2007 but after starting the second phase with a 103-run thrashing by Australia, who would win a third straight title, were never in the hunt for a semi-final spot.