Sanga and Anura to repreent Lannka at WC opening ceremony

Chris Dhambarage reporting from Bangladesh

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.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony Live Streaming On February 17th 2011

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Live Steam 

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony will take place at Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday, February 17th 2011 and the opening cricket match will also be held on Saturday, February 19th 2011 between India vs Bangladesh.

Cricket World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony Live Streaming

DHAKA Feb 17 (Reuters) - Bangladeshis cast aside their usual docile and reserved image on Thursday and proudly displayed their sporting passion ahead of the gala opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup later in the capital.

The $30 million jamboree, jointly organised by the International Cricket Conference (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), will be opened by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Unusually for the often chaotic and jam-packed Dhaka roads, traffic was relatively light with the government declaring Thursday a half-day public holiday so its people could watch the opening ceremony.

It is the first time the country, which is slowly making a mark in world one-day cricket if not the five-day test version, has helped stage the showpiece event which will last from Feb 19 to April 2.

The country, whose population of more than 160 million has suffered more than its fair share of natural disasters, is jointly hosting with India and Sri Lanka and thoroughly enjoying its rare moment in the sporting spotlight.

"We will be able to improve our image if we can successfully hold the opening ceremony and host the World Cup matches slated for us," Mostafa Kamal, president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, told reporters.

Bangladesh will stage the tournament's opening match between India and Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium in the Mirpur area of Dhaka on Saturday.

Bryan Adams to perform at 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup opening ceremony

Bryan Guy Adams shortly Bryan Adams will be attend on ICC world cup opening ceremony, 2011. It is confirmed by one of his associate. This ICC world Cup 2011 will be arrange with a simultaneous programs. Opening ceremony of ICC world cup cricket 2011 venue is Bangabandhu National Cricket Stadium and day is 17th February. Tickets of world cup cricket will be available from 10th February. To know about tickets of ICC world cup 2011 click here.We are coming to the world biggest event of the year of 2011 is the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Here Pop star Bryan Adams will scheduled to perform at the ICC world cup 2011 opening ceremony on February 17, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Cricket fans all over the world will waiting to watch and enjoy Bryan Adams’ performance on the opening ceremony of the World Cup 2011.Bryan Adams, who was always been part of the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup 2011.Sources close to the Canadian singer have confirmed the news and an official announcement is expected in next few days.

World Cup Cricket 2011 Prize Money

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The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 champion cricket team would be taking home prize money of US$ 4 million, with the ICC (International Cricket Council) may have to double the total share for the coveted tournament to US$ 10 million. The conclusion was obtained at the International Cricket Council (ICC )Board meeting which was held in Dubai on April 20, 2010.

Rickshaw ride for captains in World Cup opening ceremony

DHAKA: Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni may find it difficult to recollect when he had last taken a rickshaw ride, but he is scheduled to take one on Thursday when captains of all the 14 participating countries are taken around the new-look Bangabandhu Stadium on tri-cycles during a glitzy opening ceremony of the 2011 World Cup.

In a nation where rickshaws continue to be the most popular mode of conveyance, it is Bangladesh's way of fusing tradition with modernity. The Pontings and Sangakkaras may find Thursday's rickshaw ride amusing but, for the 14 rickshawalas handpicked to ferry the cricketing luminaries --- it could well be a life-changing experience. As television cameras capture the moment and telecast the images to a worldwide audience, they will not only get their two minutes of fame but also become part of World Cup history, leaving the rest of their ilk to envy these chosen 14.

The much-hyped rickshaw ride is not the only thing that will be on view during the two-hour-long opening ceremony whose tickets have long been sold out. A few thousand fans who braved long queues and to buy tickets can consider themselves lucky because it offers them two shows for the price of one. The gates of the stadium will open at 2.30pm (3pm IST) and fans will be treated to a pre-show (from 4 to 6pm) before the big show gets under way with the welcome song --- O prithibi, tumi aaj chine nao (O world, it's time to know us) --- sung by local artistes.

The high point of the function is expected in the segment where Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams takes over from top singers from the three host nations --- Bangladesh, Indian and Sri Lanka --- following the formal opening of the tournament by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has spared no effort in branding the country's image with the ICC's quadrennial showpiece event.

Three of Bangladesh's top lady singers --- Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin and Mumtaz will kick off this segment by belting out some of their chart-bursting numbers, while the mellifluous voice of Sonu Nigam will tug at our heart strings even as the 14 skippers enjoy a rickshaw ride. And there will the trio of Shankar, Ehsan and Loy to sing the theme song De Ghuma Ke (whack it will all your might) in Hindi, Bengali and English to set the tone of the competition which involves a staggering 49 matches spread over six weeks. There will also be a band from Sri Lanka to entertain the fans before Adams gives it to us straight from the heart in what promises to be a one night love affair.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which was keen to rope in Shakira for the opening ceremony, opted for Adams after the representatives of the Colombian singer reportedly asked for a cool $2 million appearance fee!

An aerial cricket show, touted to be first of its kind, promises to wow the spectators. The last time the World Cup was staged in the sub-continent in 1996, the opening ceremony at the Eden Gardens had been an unmitigated disaster. First-time co-hosts, Bangladesh, are taking every precaution to prevent any glitches. Having spruced up the nation's capital for the World Cup, the Hasina government is ready to showcase Bangladesh in a new light even as Dhaka doubles up as the capital of the cricket world for the next few days.

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.

Wizcraft promises spectacular World Cup opening gala

New Delhi: It will be the most spectacular World Cup ceremony ever, promises Sabbas Joseph of the event management firm Wizcraft Entertainment, which is riding high on the success of the grand shows put up during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"The entire presentation is going to be very grand. We aim to present a pageantry of passion for cricket in the subcontinent through the opening ceremony, and it will be the biggest opening ceremony for a World Cup ever," Wizcraft director Joseph told IANS on the phone from Dhaka.

Top 10 World Cup knocks

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium.

A two-hour, 15 minute-long ceremony, it will see around 3,500 performers putting up a colourful depiction of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi culture, complete with song sequences by well-known artists like Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, Indian singer Sonu Nigam and Bangladesh-based Runa Laila, said Joseph.

The function will begin with a welcome song by Bangladeshi composer Ibrar Tipu, followed by Sonu Nigam's rendition of his self-composed English song "Rise for glory" that will welcome the captains of all the participating teams in the stadium.

"Sonu's song captures the spirit of all sportsmen and inspires them to rise through the stars and perform well," said Joseph.

Thereafter, a performance representing the ICC-UN AIDS partnership will be put up by children, who will form the iconic red ribbon.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will then inaugurate the World Cup 2011 around a "very different" cricket-based performance, details of which Joseph refused to divulge.

The inauguration will pave the way for a special presentation around this year's three co-hosts - India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"For the Indian segment, we are showcasing various festivals with a riot of colours that our country is known for. The performers will form a diya.

"Sri Lanka will be showcased as the pearl of the Indian ocean. Using the performers, we have tried to create a sea in the middle of the stadium and we are attempting to showcase the rise of the pearl through the performance. Bangladesh will be depicted as the rising tiger of Asia," Joseph explained.

Apart from this visual delight, Sri Lankan pop singers Baithya, Santhusth and Iraj will enthrall the spectators with their melodies and so will Mumtaz, Sabina Yasmin and Runa Laila from Bangladesh.

Runa is expected to raise the energy levels with her popular number "Damadam mast kalander".

Next up, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams will keep up the tempo of the show with his performance, while Indian composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, known for their energetic gigs, will belt out the official World Cup anthem "De ghuma ke".

No tweeting on World Cup match days: ICC

The highlight in the performance will be the fact that they will sing the song in three languages - Hindi, Sinhalese and Bengali.

The entire show is expected to be lit up by mesmerising fireworks.

"The World Cup opening ceremony is another concept, another show, entirely different from the CWG. All we can say is that we won't let anyone feel let down. It's going to be the biggest opening ceremony ever and the biggest event for Bangladesh ever since its liberation. We hope to make it truly spectacular," said Joseph.

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