WC declared open with stupendous ceremony

By Team Bellevision
Bellevision Media Network

Dhaka, 17 February 2011: A rickshaw ride for each of the 14 captains into the new-look Bangabandhu Stadium, a performance by Bangldesh’s pop stars and an opening song by Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam kick-started the opening ceremony of the 2011 World Cup and marked the start of a gruelling six-week sporting marathon.

 

Internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams and Indian singing trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were 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. The 2011 ICC World Cup was declared open by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid thunderous applause. Hasina hoped the World Cup will strengthen the ties between the cricketing countries.

 

"I congratulate the cricket loving public for their great enthusiasm and cooperation to make this event a grand success," she said. She also extended her thanks to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for selecting Bangladesh as one of the hosts. She then declared the tournament open and placed her palm on a scanner setting off a series of breathtaking fireworks.

 

 

The 2-hour-15 minute-long ceremony saw 3,500 performers putting up a colourful depiction of Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi cultures, complete with song sequences by well-known artists. Captains of the 14 participating nations got an unforgettable ride on tri-cycles (rickshaws) while music, folk songs and dances, breathtaking fireworks and the collective enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi capital ushered in the event.

 

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni drew a loud applause while the biggest cheer was reserved for host captain Shakib Al Hasan as he waved to the crowd. After all the captains assembled on the specially erected dias, Sonu Nigam then rendered the ’Spirit of Cricket’ song. Besides Sonu Nigam, top Bangladeshi vocalists Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin and Mumtaz also crooned in front of a capacity crowd which was treated to a musical extravaganza in three languages - English, Hindi and Bangla.

 

But the show-stopper was undoubtedly Bryan Adams. He took centrestage with some of his all-time hits like ’lets make it a night to remember’, ’Summer of 69’ and ’18 till I die’ among others. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy rounded off a colourful evening by belting out the World Cup theme song ’De Ghuma Ke’, which has been composed by them, amid loud cheer. A show of pyrotechnics then followed to put the World Cup well on its way.

 

Two days later, Bangladesh and co-hosts India will clash in the inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur to herald the beginning of 43 days of action spread across 13 venues in three countries. The other host country, Sri Lanka start off their campaign against lowly Canada in a Group A encounter in Colombo on Sunday. The tenth edition of cricket’s quadrennial showpiece will feature 14 teams and 49 matches - 29 in India, a dozen in Sri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh.

 

ICC World Cup 2011 Groups:

Group A – Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.
Group B – India, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, Netherlands and Ireland.

ICC World Cup 2011 Schedule:

1. 19 February (14.00) – India vs Bangladesh – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

2. 20 February (09.30) – New Zealand vs Kenya – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

3. 20 February (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Canada – Hambantota International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

4. 21 February (14.00) – Australia vs Zimbabwe – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

5. 22 February (14.30) – England vs Netherlands – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

6. 23 February (14.30) – Pakistan vs Kenya – Hambantota International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

7. 24 February (14.30) – South Africa vs West Indies – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

8. 25 February (14.30) – Australia vs New Zealand – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

9. 25 February (09.30) – Bangladesh vs Ireland – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

10. 26 February (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

11. 27 February (14.30) – India vs England – Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

12. 28 February (14.30) – West Indies vs Netherlands – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

13. 28 February (09.30) – Zimbabwe vs Canada – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

14. 01 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Kenya – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

15. 02 March (14.30) – England vs Ireland – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

16. 03 March (09.30) – South Africa vs Netherlands – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

17. 03 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs Canada – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

18. 04 March (09.30) – New Zealand vs Zimbabwe – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

19. 04 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs West Indies – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

20. 05 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Australia – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

21. 06 March (14.30) – India vs Ireland – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

22. 06 March (09.30) – England vs South Africa – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

23. 07 March (14.30) – Kenya vs Canada – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

24. 08 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs New Zealand – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

25. 09 March (14.30) – India vs Netherlands – Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi

26. 10 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

27. 11 March (09.30) – West Indies vs Ireland – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

28. 11 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs England – Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong

29. 12 March (14.30) – India vs South Africa – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

30. 13 March (09.30) – New Zealand vs Canada – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

31. 13 March (14.30) – Australia vs Kenya – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

32. 14 March (14.30) – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

33. 14 March (14.30) – Bangladesh vs Netherlands – Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong

34. 15 March (14.30) – South Africa vs Ireland – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

35. 16 March (14.30) – Australia vs Canada – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

36. 17 March (14.30) – England vs West Indies – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

37. 18 March (14.30) – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

38. 18 March (09.30) – Ireland vs Netherlands – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

39. 19 March (14.30) – Australia vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

40. 19 March (09.30) – Bangladesh vs South Africa – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

41. 20 March (09:30) – Zimbabwe vs Kenya – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

42. 20 March (14.30) – India vs West Indies – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

43. 23 March (14.30) – First Quarterfinal (Group A1 vs Group B4) – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

44. 24 March (14.30) – Second Quarterfinal (Group A2 vs Group B3) – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

45. 25 March (14.30) – Third Quarterfinal (Group A3 vs Group B2) – Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

46. 26 March (14.30) – Fourth Quarterfinal (Group A4 vs Group B1) – Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

47. 29 March (14.30) – First Semifinal (Winner of Match 43 vs Winner of Match 45) – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

48. 30 March (14.30) – Second Semifinal (Winner of Match 44 vs Winner of Match 46) – Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

49. 02 April (14.30) – Final (Winner of Match 47 vs Winner of Match 48) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai