A dazzling WC launch

The World Cup down under officially opened with a celebration of local culture, pop music and fireworks in Melbourne and Christchurch yesterday.

While Australia thrilled the audience at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the Hagley Oval in New Zealand was the centre of attraction for thousands of fans and members of the cricket fraternity.

The opening ceremonies, two days before the kick-off of the one and a half-month spectacle of cricket's flagship event, were not as lavish as it was four years ago in Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium. But it was still a dazzling one and entertained an audience of more than two billion people across the world. The highlight of the ceremony was 'The Don', a 5.5m puppet of a batsman, controlled by six people. He rose to his feet as the orchestra behind him played, and the sequence ended with the 150kg cricketer hit a big six that sparked the lights.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza flew to the ceremony at Melbourne. But it was an occasion the Tigers captain and the millions of Bangladesh fans did not enjoy.

Mashrafe was understandably stone-faced for most of the occasion after his side's defeat against Ireland earlier in the day. It was Bangladesh's fourth consecutive defeat in the practice matches.

To rub salt in the wounds, Mashrafe had a scary flight on a chopper and had lost his favourite sunglass on his way to the opening ceremony.

Besides, when all the 14 participating countries chose to showcase their own tradition, culture and heritage, Bangladesh looked like the odd one.

When it was Bangladesh's turn, 13 youths took to the stage and danced to the tune of 'Cholo Bangladesh Cholo', the theme song for the Tiger's World Cup campaign. But the music and their outfits, the Bangladesh team jersey with jeans, were definitely not an apt projection of our rich culture.