ICC World Cup 2011, opening ceremony

Thursday February 17, 2011

5:40	Nitin Sundar: Hello and welcome to the World Cup opening ceremony. Bangladesh have put in a lot of effort for this show, so get ready for Dhaka's finest.

5:45	[Comment From Dhruv ] Come on Indian Subcontinent show the world they also have power.

5:48

Nitin Sundar: Well, in general cricket World Cups and opening ceremonies haven't really gone off very well. I remember the faulty laser show in 1996, and an opening ceremony that was a non-event at the 1999 World Cup. Here's hoping for something better from the Bangabandhu Stadium. The ground is packed for the event, and Sid Monga was telling us there was a huge crowd trying to get a glimpse of the rehearsals yesterday! Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has arrived. The lighting is very space age - blue lighting with the spotlight on the raised platform in the middle. All set for the Bangladesh national anthem now.

5:51	Nitin Sundar: Sharda Ugra, our senior editor, shoots me down saying the 2003 World Cup in South Africa had the best music ever! Meanwhile, men and women dressed in green and red, the colours of the Bangladesh flag, recite the anthem.

5:52	Nitin Sundar: And now a montage of scenes from all the World Cups from 1975 to 2007, on the new big screen erected at the Bangabandhu Stadium. Looking good, I must say!

5:56

Nitin Sundar: A rendition of "Oh preeti preeti ...", which I assume is a popular local song by a group of singers. Very colourful costumes as people assemble around the elevated stage in coordination, the aerial view looks grand. And the song is catchy! Anyone who can translate the Bangla lyrics for our benefit?

5:56	[Comment From Arun ] Since their independence, this is the first time Bangladesh is in charge to handle a such a great event. Lets wish them all the best!

5:58

Nitin Sundar: Indeed, Arun. The Bangabandhu has additional significance since it hosted the first Tests of both Pakistan and Bangladesh - this ground is a crucial landmark in the international cricket map. I have vivid memories of the ICC mini World Cup held here in 1998, a tournament that then changed into the ICC knock-out and is now known as the ICC Champions Trophy. Bangladesh put on a grand show then, hosting a very interesting tournament.

6:02

Nitin Sundar: Stumpy, the tournament mascot, is being escorted into the ground, on a cycle rickshaw! And that's not all. We have pedal-powered cycle rickshaws escorting each of the captains into the center. Right. Now I have seen everything! Ponting has a shy smile. Strauss has a humongous smile. The captains of course as not riding their vehicles, they are sitting in the passenger area, accompanied by a kid in the respective team's colours.

6:02	Nitin Sundar: Haha! The kid accompanying Daniel Vettori is wearing spectacles. Looks like the NZ captain himself.

6:04	Nitin Sundar: The last time I saw an auto rickshaw in such a high-profile setting, was in the Shah Rukh Khan movie Main Hoon Na. It looked absurd in that spoof film, coming as it did in a high-speed chase. (No kidding.)

6:05	[Comment From navdeep ] Cycle rickshaws should be given to man of the match in this world cup!

6:06	Nitin Sundar: Great idea Navdeep! Not sure what they do with those cars and motorbikes in any case. Shakib Al Hasan gets the biggest cheer of the evening, only MS Dhoni can close to matching it.

6:06	[Comment From rony ] Rickshaw is an Iconic transport of Bangladsh

6:07	Nitin Sundar: We have the cycle rickshaws in India as well, but the motorised auto rickshaws (or tuk-tuks if you will) are more ubiquitous. The drivers literally take you for a ride, with the rates they charge.

6:08

[Comment From Kannan ] It is always tough to sit on one of those since you feel quite bad for the guy who is pedalling it - but anyway this is just for fun :-) and Its great to see Bangladesh given a chance to do the opening ceremony... I just hope that it will be something unique and not just one Bollywood song after another... the CWG opening ceremony was quite memorable...

6:09	Nitin Sundar: The captains have assembled on the dais, and fireworks take off from the ring around them. A huge round of applause for the men who matter. Time now for the Spirit of Cricket song, performed by popular Indian singer Sonu Nigam.

6:11

Nitin Sundar: Ouch. Nigam (a guy) has turned up in a waistcoat of sorts with a plunging neckline. And he's forgotten to wear a shirt inside. Hair unkempt as always, and a snakeskin overcoat. And a harem pant, which is perfectly in place for the ensemble. Ouch. Sonu Nigam - great voice. Slightly eccentric dress sense. Very theatrical.

6:12	Nitin Sundar: This is the first time I'm hearing this song, and I must admit, it's quite good to hear. Passionate lyrics and a passionate ring to it, that does justice to our great game.

6:14	Nitin Sundar: Fireworks go off as Sonu Nigam crescendoes into the closing lines... "Lets go for glory.." . Very opening cermony-ish. So far, this show has shown the right amound of restraint. Well begun, despite Sonu Nigam's clothes.

6:15	[Comment From Arnav ] looks like sonu nigam was gonna perform the zulu untill he started singing

6:16	Nitin Sundar: Sangakkara and Sehwag in a video, promoting Aids awareness. Of course, only the captains are here, so that was canned earlier. Mustafa Kamal, BCB president, delivers the Welcome Address now.

6:18	[Comment From Nishath ] Where is Shakira when you need her?

6:19	Nitin Sundar: I'll tell you who I am missing - AR Rahman. He's performed at events with far lesser prominence than this in the past. For me, the greatest musician on the planet.

6:20	Nitin Sundar: Mr. Kamal's speech began in English and has now given way to Bangla. He seems to be reciting it like an election manifesto, but the passion is obvious.

6:20	[Comment From Samy ] Can we have Shakira dressed like Sonu Nigam pretty pretty please.

6:23

Nitin Sundar: I am going to have a sleepless night thanks to Samy's comment, imagining Nigam performing Waka Waka. "It's time for Insomnia". Executive Editor Jayaditya Gupta translates a bit of what Mr. Kamal is saying, apparently he is asking for a 100,000 capacity ground, from the prime minister. He ends his speech with the words "Jai Bangladesh"(Victory to Bangladesh)

6:24	Nitin Sundar: Another offical takes over the speaking baton from Mr. Kemal, and welcomes the crowd to the opening ceremony of "ICC World Cup 2001". Hmm.

6:27

Nitin Sundar: In fact, just for effect, he read it out thus: "ICC World Cup, Two Zero Zero One" And he's now ended with Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu, Joy Bangladesh. That was a member of the sports ministry. Now we have the finance minister. What are the odds of the entire cabinet coming on stage to speak a couple of words today? Politicians in the subcontinent. Ubiquitous. All the time. Sigh. George Binoy predicts the orchids on the stage will wilt by the time these speeches are done.

6:28	[Comment From Pareek ] Have to pity the captains. Standing in there all the time. Listening to these speeches.

6:29	Nitin Sundar: Ha! Now MS Dhoni knows how others might feel when he starts off on one of his long-winded "Well of course..." rambles!

6:30	[Comment From TJ ] Dhoni to the other captains- "Well of course these speechs are very boring"

6:30	Nitin Sundar: ICC chief Sharad Pawar walks up to speak now.

6:31

Nitin Sundar: Oho, what have we here. Mr Pawar from Bombay has learnt some lines in Bangla! The crowd cheers on. I'm afraid, I have no idea what he's saying, but Ms. Sheikh Hasina is taking notes, probably in her speech. Thankfully, the captains have been given seats. They aren't standing through the discourses.

6:33	Nitin Sundar: Mr Pawar now says this is the third time the World Cup has come to the subcontinent, after 1987 and 1997. Can we do away with years altogether please? Just World Cup 1, World Cup 2 and so on.

6:34	[Comment From Ravi ] So many ministers from Bangladesh allowed to speak - must be due to coalition dharma!

6:34	Nitin Sundar: Well Ravi, thank heavens the opening ceremony was not in India!

6:35	Nitin Sundar: On a completely unrelated note - doesn't Mr. Pawar bear an uncanny resemblance to Umpire Amiesh Saheba?

6:36	Nitin Sundar: PM Sheikh Hasina takes over the mic now. She's started off in Bangla.

6:37	[Comment From Dhillon ] i always thought they were the same person , no ? enjoying umpiring and running the ICC side by side!

6:38	[Comment From Prasanta ] Allow Sachin to speak something. Because it's his last WC.

6:38	Nitin Sundar: That's alwaya a favourite. Sachin Tendulkar is not around for the ceremony, though. Now please don't stop following our coverage!

6:39	Nitin Sundar: Anand Ramachandran, one of our regulars on Page 2 muses on twitter, how bored Bryan Adams must be getting backstage. Well, no worries for Adams. He'll remain 18 till the speeches end.

6:40	[Comment From Ashraf ] It is good 2 speak in the national lauguage, but as it is a world cup she also speak in english.

6:40	Nitin Sundar: Ashraf might have been speaking at Ms. Hasina. She seamlessly slips into English now.

6:40	[Comment From Vijay ] Dont tell me she is going to repeat the whole thing in English now!

6:41	Nitin Sundar: "I hereby declare the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 open!" ends Ms. Hasina's speech. The music begins again, there's a smattering of applause and snazzy lights go off. And yeah, the speeches are over for now!

6:42	[Comment From Sami ] I wish I could be watching this right now but stuck in school:(

6:43	Nitin Sundar: In my day, you couldn't follow cricinfo when you were in school. What's the world coming to!

6:44	[Comment From Rajat ] In our day, we bunked that day. Come on Sami, run back home

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