Very touching article about Bangladesh and the opening ceremony - Cricinfo

pagol-chagol · #1 February 17, 2011, 01:01 PM

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/501499.html

"The best, and the most unforgettable, moment was when all the captains were brought in on cycle rickshaws. One captain on each rickshaw, with a kid sitting beside him, waving to the crowd, and the crowd responding generously. They were all brought out alphabetically, Australia first, but Canada followed Australia and not Bangladesh. As it turned out, the co-hosts were saved for the last, and more importantly Shakib-Al-Hasan for the very last. Not many people present at the Bangabandhu Stadium will ever forget the applause that Shakib walked out to.

Put the applause for the other 13 captains together - and they were not stingy with any of them - but it paled in comparison. That noise was enough to know what the World Cup meant to the country. In that moment, the traffic jams, the poor singing, the long speeches didn't matter. Over to Shakib's team now to make sure the party goes on deep into the tournament. The people deserve it."

pagol-chagol · #2 February 17, 2011, 01:03 PM

I wish someone could translate this to Bangla.

Dilscoop · #3 February 17, 2011, 01:05 PM

Picture of the century

Akib · #4 February 17, 2011, 01:09 PM

Great article. The ceremony did look quite beautiful.

Hatebreed · #5 February 17, 2011, 01:13 PM

Very good read. Wholeheartedly agree with everything said. And there's nothing to be embarassed about rikshaws being part of the ceremony. If anything, it was the speeches that got me cringing.

Akib · #6 February 17, 2011, 01:14 PM

Rickshaws was pretty cool. Considering how central they are to Dhaka, why shouldn't they be there.

Speeches would be the main thing to remove....

roman · #7 February 17, 2011, 01:23 PM

Excellent article. I so wish I was there in Dhaka now

sujon · #8 February 17, 2011, 01:27 PM

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/501499.html

Mon bhalo hoye gelo porar por.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #9 February 17, 2011, 01:31 PM

Very nice! So how many of you cried watching the ceremony?

I was snoring.

al Furqaan · #10 February 17, 2011, 01:32 PM

that article actually produced tears in my eyes...

Night_wolf · #11 February 17, 2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagol-chagol
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/501499.html

In that moment, the traffic jams, the poor singing, the long speeches didn't matter. Over to Shakib's team now to make sure the party goes on deep into the tournament. The people deserve it."

lol!..must be talking about mila!

LateCut · #12 February 17, 2011, 01:41 PM

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.

Nitin Sundar: (ESPNCI)
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.

End of Mustafa Kamals Speech

sujon · #13 February 17, 2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Night_wolf
lol!..must be talking about mila!

I think he wante dto say "poor song"..about the official theme song.

allrounder · #14 February 17, 2011, 02:37 PM

Nope, it must be referring to Sonu Nigam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Night_wolf
lol!..must be talking about mila!

magic boy · #15 February 17, 2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

I have travelled in and out of a few Indian cities in the last few days, and even though the warm-up matches in Bangalore and Chennai have been played to full and raucous stands, nowhere has the presence of the World Cup been so palpable. The build-up to the World Cup in India has largely been drummed up by the media, and while there is no doubt that the matches will draw massive audiences, it is possible, if you so choose, to remain unaffected by it.

But in Dhaka you are drawn in to it the moment you step off the plane. The spirit of the World Cup is all pervasive. Billboards and hoardings either welcome visitors to the World Cup or exhort the fans to get behind the home team. Giant cricket bats invite fans to pledge their support in writing and there's even a 15-foot statue of a gorilla representing the might of the fan. But in the end, it's not about the decorations and garnish; it's about the way the fans have taken to the World Cup.

The one-hour ride from Bangabandhu to Mirpur in the night is an experience by itself. Even from the air-conditioned bus, it felt like Ramzan, Christmas and Diwali had arrived together. The roads were decked in decorative lights and the people were out on the street, in open vans, on hand-pulled rickshaws, dancing, partying, shouting slogans, taking photographs, or just silently soaking in the atmosphere.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/501510.html

truly it is. whenever i get chance now walking down the streets of Dhaka is kinda hobby =p

kazis2007 · #16 February 17, 2011, 02:50 PM

Pakistan might be embrassed seeing the opening ceremony.........

roman · #17 February 17, 2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazis2007
Pakistan might be embrassed seeing the opening ceremony.........

why?

Mahir · #18 February 17, 2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
that article actually produced tears in my eyes...

same here

HereWeGo · #19 February 17, 2011, 03:03 PM

We bashed Cricinfo a lot in the past....
Guess its high time that WE FOR ONCE THANK THEM for the wonderful piece.... I dont think anyone could have written it better...

Nafis 1718 · #20 February 17, 2011, 03:08 PM

jotil!!

roman · #21 February 17, 2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
that article actually produced tears in my eyes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahir
same here

you guys are too emotional. Shedding tears every now and then....( it produced tears in my eyes too. Really missing Dhaka a lot now

)

EspnBhai · #22 February 17, 2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazis2007
Pakistan might be embrassed seeing the opening ceremony.........

PTV deliberately didnt show the ceremony properly ...
when Hasina making her speach, they played their own official song.
every time bangladeshi singer/dancers took the stage, they played their crap music.

what a pathetic fanatic state!
they will never change, i'm afraid.

amar11432 · #23 February 17, 2011, 03:25 PM

They are going crazy over at pakpassion. And are trying to argue factual historic events. Lunacy i say.

Posted via BC Mobile Edition (Android)

Raynman · #24 February 17, 2011, 03:29 PM

I think we here at BC quite frequently unfairly bash cricinfo.

They have news articles which I have felt are from a good journalism standpoint and they have Opinion pieces. Opinion pieces are somebody's opinion and should be treated as such. Either you agree or disagree, no need to bash the website.

We are growing as a a cricket nation and our growth on the field has earned us more respect than before and the ability to put on an opening ceremony such as this (obviously amplified in its glory thanks to the crowd input) will oly keep that on the upswing.

tipu009 · #25 February 17, 2011, 03:46 PM

HQ pictures of WCOC at BBC... touching too..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9400822.stm