World Cup 2011: The opening ceremony update

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

6:47

Nitin Sundar: Ok, the speeches are done and now we have electronic kites flying around. And a 3-D electronic depiction of the World Cup on a building outside the stadium. Now the image of a pitch on that building. Ok, is this Bangabandhu or Hogwarts? We have a bunch of people abseiling down the wall of the building! They are going to play cricket completely horizontally. Jonty Rhodes will approve!

6:49

Nitin Sundar: Alan Wilkins and Ravi Shastri having a ball on air, as the bowler runs up the vertical face and 'bowls' a flourescent green ball-like light at a batsman. He's just stolen a tight single, before smashing a four. Wilkins says he is bowling pretty well up the slope. Ah well, now an intruder! Not a streaker mind you. The final ball of the game is smashed straight at me. I must say, I haven't seen anything like this. Good stuff, Bangladesh!

6:51

Nitin Sundar: Back on terra firma. Someone's emerging from the middle of the stage, with what can aptly be called a rain-bow. It is a bow that has all the colours of the rainbow and he shoots a firework arrow out. This is apparently a celebration of Magnificent India. Dancers in white kurta-pyjamas are running around with coloured flags to some music as the coloured lights flash away.

6:51	[Comment From Karthik ] Nope, Jonty would not approve that, he would not allow the electronic kites fly, he himself would.

6:52	Nitin Sundar: Now we have dancers bringing diyas - oil lamps from India - onto the stage.

6:53	[Comment From Nauman ] I can't bunk class, I am a teacher

6:53	Nitin Sundar: Nauman, the students are in good hands.

6:54	Nitin Sundar: "This is a big stage. A proud moment for India," says Ravi Shastri. One gets the feeling he's going to say tracer bullet pretty soon. Make no mistake, something's got to give.

6:55	Nitin Sundar: The tempo of the beats increase, performers showcasing different elements of Indian dance. We now have a Punjabi bhangra jig.

6:57	[Comment From Sid ] Nitin, where's the Shankar Ehsaan Loy & Brian Adams d'you know?

6:58	Nitin Sundar: Sid, I'm assuming they are backstage and getting ready for their bits. Bryan is still thinking if he's ever heard so many speeches before.

7:00

Nitin Sundar: After Punjab, we had Kashmiri dance and now a dance straight out of a Tamil song. Alan Wilkins has some trouble saying "Naka Mooka"! Dancers in shiny shirts and lungis (a type of sarong for men). Next up, a song from Rang de Basanti. AR Rahman's not around, but we have a song of his being performed. Ravi Shastri says something to the effect, " This is just what the doctor ordered." There's a random peacock imitation standing on the side of the stage.

7:01	[Comment From Ravi ] Wilkins pronouncing of "Nakka Mookka" will do Rajnikant proud!

7:01	Nitin Sundar: Friends who don't know who Rajnikanth is, please take a moment to google the legend. Thanks.

7:02	[Comment From Supra ] It is actually a sequence of dances from different parts of India. started with Maratha, followed by Bihu from Assam, then Kashmiri and now Punjab.

7:02	Nitin Sundar: Unfortunately Supra, we are having frequent commercial breaks so missed some of them.

7:03	[Comment From Sriram ] if the speeches are back, then Ravi Shastri might add 'The last thing they need at this stage is a speech'.

7:04	Nitin Sundar: The Indian performance is over and the Sri Lankans have taken over. We have three singers - Bathiya, Santush and Iraj rendering a peppy number. They are wearing glitzy jackets and goggles. Not even a shade on the absurd attire Sonu Nigam wore.

7:06	Nitin Sundar: The song began in Sinhalese, and now there's some English rapping. Very lively rhythm, sounds a lot like the songs from South India.

7:09	Nitin Sundar: Next up, the Sri Lankan dance. Sound of waves, and a flute as dancers assemble with sheets of clothes waved in the blue light. And a boat rides the waves. What's more, we have Russell Arnold in the commentary box.

7:11	Nitin Sundar: An oyster shell opens in the middle of the stage. Wilkins shatters the suspense before it opens saying there is going to be a princess inside. I was expecting a pearl. Oh well. Russell Arnold says she represents the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

7:11	[Comment From Murari ] But no one describes anything Sri Lankan better than Tony Greig.

7:13	Nitin Sundar: No one describes anything better than Tony Greig. He once spoke for two whole minutes about the material used to make the ropes on the boundary. They were trialing a new material with some elastic properties, in 2001, in South Africa. And Greig was waxing lyrical.

7:14	[Comment From Sidharth ] Tony would have said. "They are dancing in the aisles these Bangladeshis!"

7:16	Nitin Sundar: Some mythological scenes are being enacted on the stage. Folk beats and dancers with crowns.

7:16	[Comment From Kiran ] Why is the opening ceremony happening today instead of just before the start of fist match?

7:17	Nitin Sundar: Well, Kiran, good thing they began the speeches today, the ceremony will end before the first match on the 19th.

7:18	Nitin Sundar: Got to hand it to the broadcasters. No ad breaks when the politicians were speaking. Several now when these dancers are putting up a show for which they have probably rehearsed for months on end.

7:19	[Comment From Reyaz ] Hey i'm from canada. I would like to know what time the ceremony begins?

7:19	Nitin Sundar: Reyaz, I suggest you go back in time. It began around 50 minutes back.

7:21	Nitin Sundar: Back from the ad break. Bangladesh's cultural show begins with Sabina Yasmin, draped in saree, singing a Bangla song. Ah, the crowd love it, they are actually dancing in the aisles. Where is Tony Greig when you need him!

7:23	[Comment From Deemun ] What exactly are the captains doing at the moment ? - I can't imagine Vettori dancing to Bangla pop

7:26

Nitin Sundar: I am imagining what the captains might be up to. I am sure they have all done a round of handshakes. With everyone other than Ponting, that is. No one wants to shake a habitually spat-upon hand. Vettori must be fogging and wiping his glasses. Dhoni must be practicing the helicopter shot. Smith must be trying not to choke on all the emotion.

7:27	Nitin Sundar: Another woman dressed in a bright saree renders a song, and Mohammad Ashraful, sitting outside the stage sings along. The famous Runa Laila croons away now. She's in a black saree and has a very 80s-style hairdo.

7:29	Nitin Sundar: "Duma Dum Mast Kalandar" is the song Runa Laila is singing - very famous in Bangladesh and India.

7:32	Nitin Sundar: The side lights go off, the stage is illuminated in gold for a rendition of "Amar Sonar Bangla..." Begins with a man playing a flute, as the drums gather the tempo. Very gentle riffs. Ah, now men run into the stage like boatmen, with imitation boats around their waists, and oars.

7:33	Nitin Sundar: A folksy Manipuri dance is on now. Manipur is of course in India, but clearly has an influence on Bangladesh as well.

7:33	[Comment From Lorenzo ] I cant get the full effect .. sing for us Nitin?

7:34	Nitin Sundar: You'll regret asking for it, Lorenzo!

7:34	[Comment From Nishath ] Normal service resumes with respect to opening ceremonies. They just lull you into sleep.

7:37

Nitin Sundar: Ramesh Srivats, a prominent twitter commentator, wonders why any representation of culture has to be ancient and rural. It is a fair question, especially in the subcontinent. Will culture change in the next 200 years? Or will the opening ceremony of World Cup 2211 have these same dances and songs? Make no mistake, it is all very good to watch. But begs the question, does culture remain static.

7:38	Nitin Sundar: Several people asking if Sreesanth is performing. Answer is no. Neither is Brett Lee. Nor AB de Villiers. Pity.

7:39	Nitin Sundar: Interesting question from Smith. He asks if Lalit Modi is there. Unless he's hiding in the crowd, I guess not.

7:40	[Comment From Srinath ] Hmmmm...Didnt know they had 3D projections on adjoining buildings 200 years ago! Or a cricket world cup for that matter!

7:43

Nitin Sundar: That wasn't my point Srinath. The 3d projection was a tool used for display. It wasn't a part of the cultural show, but a mere aid. Anyways.. Now we have laser lights. Laser made its subcontinent debut in the 1996 World Cup opening ceremony, in spectacularly ordinary fashion. Various elements of the Bangladesh identity, such as the language and the national flower - the water lily - are being depicted.

7:44	Nitin Sundar: Pictures from earlier today - Stumpy making an appearance on a cycle rickshaw: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/image/501463.html

7:45	Nitin Sundar: And MS Dhoni wearing that trademark smile of his as he's being transported onto the stage http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/image/501464.html

7:46	Nitin Sundar: As a closing thought on the culture discussion - the Indian segment did include songs from Bollywood and other movie industries of the country. Which I guess is the modern representation of the country's culture.

7:49	[Comment From umesh ] Bryan Adams is singing backstage... "Please Forgive Me"

7:49	[Comment From Sidharth ] Feel for the guy who was driving stumpy.. Looks like he was really made to work hard there..

7:51	Nitin Sundar: Can't be easy to pedal an elephant around. Even if it's a make-believe pachyderm. Some more pics - here is Graeme Smith getting a lift. http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/image/501458.html?page=1

7:52	[Comment From Richard ] We have another cultural thing going on. Commerical. Bangladesh Tourism. No respite

7:53	Nitin Sundar: Alright. The moment has arrived. Bryan Adams, in a black shirt, hair slicked back and a guitar slung around the shoulder. Lip-syncs "Summer of '69 ...". Hmm. Wonder if these are the best days of his life.

7:54	Nitin Sundar: Ramesh Srivats is on fire on Twitter. He says, "I really hope Bryan Adams sings "18 till I die" and the camera quickly cuts to Afridi." Hahahaha!

7:55	Nitin Sundar: Ok, I take that back. Adams, unlike some of the previous singers, isn't lip-syncing. He's singing live.

7:57	Nitin Sundar: "Lets make it a night to remember" now from Bryan Adams. All those lovely speeches made it a night to remember, long before Adams took the stage, but well ..

7:59	Nitin Sundar: All I can say is, this is better than listening to Akon and watching Shah Rukh Khan 'dancing' during the IPL.

8:00	Nitin Sundar: Little known facts about Bryan Adams - his middle name is 'Guy'. He is also a reasonably renowned photographer. Ricky Ponting sings along with him now.

8:01	Nitin Sundar: Ah here it is - "18 till I die..."Where is Afridi I say!

8:03	[Comment From Sri ] I guess you have mistaken Nitin .Ricky would be chewing something in his mouth.

8:06	Nitin Sundar: Haha, they actually showed Afridi, looking tense and quiet in the captain's corner. Right, Bryan Adams did entertain tonight. Three songs and he exits stage. Now for the official 2011 World Cup song, "De ghuma ke" by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan and Loy.

8:08

Nitin Sundar: Shankar as always, portly and grooving about on the stage. Always strikes a spectacle when he's singing. I will never understand why these singers wear goggles while performing in the night. If the aliens are watching, they'd be thoroughly confused. A bunch of dancers on the stage, swinging bats into aggressive cover drives. "De ghuma ke" literally means "Swing hard"

8:08	[Comment From Jai ] The "Waka Waka" of cricket. Loving it.

8:08	[Comment From sabeen ] Afridi always looks tense - with his constant nail biting.

8:09	Nitin Sundar: Problem with Afridi is, he doesn't always stick to nails ...

8:09	[Comment From Rahul ] Sunglasses at night! Give me a break. The lasers and the lights can be so bright also.

8:10	Nitin Sundar: I guess it is down to personal preference. I personally did not like Waka Waka. And I absolutely loathe this song. My colleague Firdose Moonda likes both. So it goes.

8:11	[Comment From Taimur ] Me thinks AR Rehman would have done a far better job with the official song.

8:11	[Comment From Chinny ] Ok so you never post what i say, so im gonna stop

8:11	Nitin Sundar: Ah, got you Chinny!

8:14	Nitin Sundar: Bangabandhu is going bonkers! Spectacular fireworks light up the sky. The laser lights up the sky. Not sure why, but the same song is now being sung for the third time on the trot.

8:16

Nitin Sundar: Right, they have ended the song and I really don't recall a more grand fireworks show in the subcontinent. This reminds me of the Atlantis hotel inauguration in Dubai a couple of years back. Really colourful and a lot of lights. Well, opinion on the opening ceremony may be divided, but Bangladesh, take a bow for the sheer effort. They are one tired and happy lot now.

8:17	Nitin Sundar: Right then, on that note we sign off today. I enjoyed narrating the show as it happened, and look forward to joining you for the cricket in a couple of days time. Let the games begin! So long and thanks for all the feedback.

8:18

Courtesy: ESPNcricinfo