Fireworks as Bangladesh host World Cup party

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP):

Bangladesh hosted a grand party yesterday to welcome the start of the cricket World Cup, with song and dance from across South Asia, spectacular fireworks and a cameo appearance by Canadian rock star Bryan Adams.

An opening ceremony lasting two and a half hours began with a fleet of bicycle rickshaws ferrying the world's leading team captains into Bangabandhu National Stadium in the heart of the congested capital of Bangladesh, which is co-hosting the tournament with India and Sri Lanka.

The three nations together make up a cricket-obsessed population of more than 1.3 billion, many of whom will be glued to their television sets whenever a match is played over the next six weeks. The sport is a multi-million dollar industry in India, where its commercial appeal has rocketed over the last 10 years alongside the country's economy.

Bangladesh, most of whose 80 million people are desperately poor, is proud of hosting the tournament for the first time.

Unlike India and Sri Lanka, it draws few foreign tourists and rarely attracts international attention.

"It is dazzling, it's great to be here," businessman Nazir Hossain said, as his son waved a Bangladesh flag. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I am so happy."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the event, which showcased the cultures of the host nations with choreographed dance routines involving hundreds of performers, folk music as well as thumping Bollywood songs which are loved throughout the region.

Opening match

At one point, eight acrobats were lowered from the top of an office building overlooking the stadium and acted out a game of cricket hanging from their ropes, using the wall as a pitch. Later, a giant model of a tiger - the symbol of the national side - was wheeled into the stadium to loud cheers.

Adams and his band, who are touring India, played three of his most well-known songs toward the end of the show that had teenagers in the crowd dancing on their seats.

Dhaka will host the opening match between Bangladesh and favourites India on Saturday, with group matches taking place over the next month in 13 cities in the region. The final will be held in Mumbai, India on April 2.