WC off to a colourful start

World Cup Cricket-2011 was off to a spectacular start amid cheering crowds, colourful Chinese fireworks and eye-catching hi-tech displays at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday evening. UPDATES

Dhaka, Feb 17 (bdnews24.com) — Prime minister Sheikh Hasina declared open the World Cup Cricket 2011— the biggest sporting event that Bangladesh has ever seen—at 7:10pm on Thursday.

Co-hosted by Bangladesh, along with India and Sri Lanka, the spectacular World Cup cricket opening ceremony began at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at around 6:50pm with much fanfare. Chinese fireworks and laser show only added to the grandeur of the show.

Bangladesh witnessed several firsts in this colourful and high-tech opening ceremony. Of them, remote-controlled birds flying all over the stadium and a giant screen displaying the World Cup trophy at the 22-storey Shilpa Bank Bhaban (complex) in the vicinity of the stadium left Dhakaites dumbstruck.

Artistes hanging from 'no where' also presented an on-screen cricket show — a perfect feast to the viewers' eyes.

Earlier, in the welcome address, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president A H M Mostafa Kamal thanked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for giving Bangladesh the opportunity to organise the event and the prime minister for ensuring adequate flow of funds.

He noted that the BCB would also patronise women's cricket and cricket in Cox's Bazar, which boasts of the longest sea beach in the world.

ICC president Sharad Pawar, with his Bangla-laced language speech, struck an instant cord with the audience. He expressed pleasure over the grand opening of the event.

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