- 16 Feb 2011
Pakistan misses out on World Cup party - 16 Feb 2011
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Dhaka hosts 'Dhamaka' World Cup ceremony
Opening ceremony features fireworks, captains of competing teams paraded through historic Bangabandhu Stadium.
Performers participate in the World Cup Cricket opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on February 17, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Munir UZ ZAMAN
NEW DELHI: The opening ceremony of the World Cup got under way Thursday with the captains of the 14 competing teams paraded through Dhaka’s historic Bangabandhu Stadium in colourfully draped rickshaws.
Protected by a sheet of bullet-proof glass, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina watched as home skipper Shakib Al Hasan received a rapturous welcome from the packed arena as he arrived at the rear of the unusual parade.
The two-hour event, in which Ricky Ponting, captain of defending champions Australia, led the sparkling three-wheeled procession, saw 3,500 performers putting on a show reflecting Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi culture.
Indian singer Sonu Nigam and Bangladesh-based Runa Laila as well as veteran Canadian rocker Bryan Adams were the headline acts.
“I hope that the games will be memorable and exciting,” said Sheikh Hasina.
“It gives me great pleasure to declare the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup open.”
Dhaka has been spruced up 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.
Even though Bangladesh hosts just eight of the 49 matches at two venues, in Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, the entire nation is in the grip of cricket fever.
“The World Cup has given us a great opportunity to show the world, particularly the global press, that we are not only a country of floods, cyclones or natural disasters,” said Ramendu Majumdar, a top branding expert.
The 10th World Cup, which runs for six weeks, starts on Saturday when Bangladesh tackle favourites India.
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Reader Comments (46)
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Go Bangla Go!!!Recommend
Not very impressive ceremony. Gaddafi stadium would have been idea for such a cermenoy. Shame on BCCI for neglecting Pakistan for hosting the WC2011.Recommend
GO PAKISTAN GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Recommend
During such a long ceremony the biggest cheers won was by a song totally Pakisatani…though sung by Roona Laila….”Dama Dam Mast Qalander”……..
proves you can not keep Pakistan behind…be it music be it cricket be it hockey…..!!!!!Recommend
@Sengathir:
Bangla is going to lose… may be not even make it to the next round hahaRecommend
And the commentators on TV And Cricinfo did not acknowledge that Dama Dam Mast Qalandar is actually a sufi song made world famous by Abida ParveenRecommend
Awesome opening ceremony it was. Best of luck team PakistanRecommend
ceremony was tooooooooooo long, don’t know what they want to proof. God Bless Pakistan. It was supposed to be held in Pakistan. Curse on India Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. I am 100% sure, Pakistan will win and Pakistan has to win to put a shame on these rascals faces.
Long Live Pakistan.Recommend
One thing that struck me while seeing the opening ceremony was the intense nationalism shown by the Bangladeshis on their language and culture. Words like freedom from language oppression at 1971 and preserving our culture till today were galore. That sort of linguistic nationalism would cause indian bengalis to blush, even I have not felt that much pride to my domicile language. Well I guess we Indians (at least a good majority) feel that unity of different people is a much better binding force, than mundane things like language and religion. Recommend
GO Green GO.Recommend
@Sidharth: Every body knows that but you cant break heart for small teams. These teams are here for deciding semifinalists by upsetting othersRecommend
@Goga:
its okay man .. chill .. we are still getting the chance to play .. thats more then enough .. and besides .. we will show them .. what we are made off!!!! Recommend
My favorite moment in the ceremony was when Bryan Adams was singing “18 till I die” and camera panned to Shahid Afridi. ;)Recommend
Can we please enjoy the cricket world cup without stooping down to dissing the hosts! Recommend
Only thing to be wary of are the bookies…hope Butt and Co in PCB have taken adequate measures…Recommend
Well done, Bangladesh! A world-class ceremony for a world-class country! :)
Zulfikar Ali Khan, your comment makes you sound like a 5 year old. Pakistan is itself responsible for losing its hosting rights. Get off your (imaginary) high horse already.Recommend
Wonderful job done by Bangladesh for the opening, they should be proud.Recommend
The only thing I am sad about is that Pakistan didn’t get the chance to host WC matches. It would have been a great honor and pleasure to have them at Lahore, Karachi and other cities but the terrorists have taken this away from us! Recommend
I had heard that the 10th world cup was to be hosted by Pakistan and India jointly and may be the other teams refused to play in Pakistan because of the constant threat/terror/danger to their lives. It is what it is and I can understand that so lets not curse the our neighbours and just enjoy the matches.Recommend
too much of nationalism by bangladeshRecommend
Hats off to Bangladesh for organizing such a beautiful event. They have really done a good job.
All the best to the Pak team. Go green go win it :D
P.S : Official worldcup song is really pathetic. They could have done far better.Recommend
@Zulfikar – “Curse on India Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”
Really! I think you should curse the military, mullahs, and the militants.Recommend
Indeed a shame for Pakistan Recommend
Yes ofcourse, Pakistan should go ahead!!!Recommend
The comments justify throwing Pakistan out of the countries hosting the worldcup. No wonder only responsible nations get the pride of hosting the prestigious event.Recommend
As Pakistani, exptremely happy for Bangladesh for pulling this off in such a manner.
If not in Pakistan, then my second choice will always be Bangladesh.
I didn’t have the patience to see all of it – but I know that it was done well.
And I did hear that Punjabi song by that lengendary Bengali singer, Runa Laila.
Bravo! Recommend
with all due respect to my Pakistani brothers….All those who say that the song “Lal Meri Shahbaz Qalandar” is a pakistani song… should remember that Music itself is not Islamic.. Your music and ragas are of Hindu orgin in the first place… so have gratitude for your elder brothers and probably everything that you like is all of Vedic orgin :) …
Added to that the sufi order is also highly influenced by a sect of Hindu practices (Shaivites) the reason why you guys mostly hate them…and therefore many a sufi saints have been able to realize God as opposed to mullahs…Recommend
@Zulfikar – “Curse on India Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh! You are on the mend. Welcome to the world of the civilized. Your nightmare days are over. Do not look back and do not, repeat NOT, let any one pull you back!Recommend
@Goga……….”Gaddafi stadium would have been idea for such a cermenoy..” you must be joking..first of all it should be ceremony not cermenoy..and secondly do you remember what happened when the “last” test played at Gaddafi…Pakistan is famous for not letting the test teams to reach Gaddafi Stadium..Recommend
If apart from Pakistan I want any country to win, that will be Bangladesh.
Pakistan Banagladesh friendship – ZindabadRecommend
What a self pity guys. Bangladesh deserved it because they had the courage to stand up against their Military and Mullah Alliance. Our Benezir had been too accommodating, if we had hanged those cruel generals and murderers (through lawful means of course), we had better chance of claiming civility. But we are too proud to admit it, so keep watching this puppet show called democracy while our military and mullah enjoy complete freedom to mess our country up.
Otherwise, blame everybody on earth and it would not change anything.
However, whatever the reasons are, enjoy cricket and bet on underdog…Go Pakistan Go..Recommend
Where Pak Fauj threw down its weapons the Cricket team might prove a better fighter .Recommend
Bravo Bangladesh! Of course I’m sad we couldn’t be part of hosting the WC but we can’t take anything away from the other hosts.Recommend
I love the moment wen runa Laila gives entry.I was sure Runa will not break Pakistanis heart.In the entire episode nobody even mentioned Pakistan as a former cohost of the tournment.
Runa nay sufi song ga ker dil jeet liya millions of Pakistanis ka.We all miss u Runa,Thx for remembering Pakistan indirectly through a song.
Pakistan bangladesh zindabadRecommend
@Zulfiqar Ali Khan:
What do you want? Had the ceremony held in Pakistan, certainly there would some or the other team be attacked like Srilankan team was attacked in Lahore. To keep Pakistan from hosting the games was a good decision in the light of security concerns.Recommend
@Sunil:
Lets that hope Pakistan and India clash in the Finals and Baal Thakary party dig Venkhaday Cricket Stadium picth.
This will be a great amuesement that an Cricket match betwen ICC and BCCI to be watched.
Hold on guys for that moment…..Recommend
i am sure , if this ceremony could held in Pakistan , they would show their tanks, air crafts, and large military and nothing else. thanks Allah that , He gives us chance to held ICC 2011 world cup ceremony. Recommend
Bangladesh zindabad….Recommend
Bengalis are disgraced by all the world for these inhumane cycle rickshaws and they put them proudly in for the show… whoa!!!Recommend
As a Pakistani, I can only cry. To be shamefully rejected by the world.Recommend
@ all: I think Bangladesh believes in diversity. We respect Hindu people, we also help them, and they feel they are like in their own home, We respect Bihari people of Pakistan those were blocked during the liberation war, but pakistan never dont want to get them back, they are also happy with us.
@Sara: I think you will also enjoy this ride once you get a chance to get into Bangla rickshaw.Recommend
good luck pakistanRecommend
We love Runa Laila and Bangladesh. May enemies of these two countries are punished by God.
I am looking forward to visit Bangladesh. Would love to meet Shabnam, Robin Gosh & Runa Laila there!
So what if Pakistan couldn’t have the ceremony. There is always a next time. Bad times are temporary and it gave a chance to our brother!Recommend
@Sara: its your personal opinion, why are you talking on behalf of the whole world ? Rickshaw is part of our daily life and we showed whatever we are, we could have come up with much more glossy picture but it would be deceptive and false.Recommend
Bangladeshis are not ashmaed to show what they have ( @ sarah). There is no point being acknowleding what you are. Lets enjoy the game.Recommend
Good ceremony. “I am deeply saddened that it could have been Karachi or Lahore or any other city of my country…but Ah!!! It didn’t…very unfortunate”. The only compensation is to bring the World Cup to Pakistan. Go Pakistan Go!!!Recommend