Dhaka, Feb 17: The giant circular white dais in the centre of the Bangabandhu stadium was to come alive at 1745 hours local time. But it seemed like the public of Dhaka could not wait that long. And as if to reward their eagerness, the live acts marking the opening ceremony of the ICC World Cup 2011 kicked off even before the scheduled start.

Before the local singers, young male and female artistes, could begin their beautiful Bangla renditions, spectators were treated to a perfectly synchronised performance by marching bands, in all their pomp and glory. With the local performers regaling the assembled fans, it was time for the event proper to begin.

The two statuesque Bangladeshi hosts of the evening, dressed in exquisite Bangladeshi silk saris, welcomed audiences the world over to a big moment in the nation’s sporting history. As a melodious azaan rang out through the stadium, a mosque is housed within the premises, an atmosphere of solemnity descended on the ground. Soon, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena and other dignitaries arrived to a grand welcome.

Strains of the Bangladesh national anthem reminded all spectators – and indeed Bangladeshi citizens spread across the globe – about the significance of the occasion. And then it was time for the star of the show – cricket – to take centre stage. Audiences were reminded of key moments from the ICC World Cup over the years, the AV ending with Bangladesh, 2011 co-hosts.

Young Bangladeshi singers welcomed viewers with an upbeat rendition of a Bangla song while dozens of young men, bearing colourful flags, crisscrossed the performing area as pyrotechnics lit up the sky. Stumpy, the ICC World Cup 2011 mascot then took a ride round the stadium on an unmistakably Bangladeshi vehicle – the ubiquitous cycle rickshaw! And boy was he in illustrious company. Following soon after was Australia captain Ricky Ponting in his very own rickshaw, all lit up with fairy lights, leading the pack of captains from the participating sides, each similarly transported.

The captains then took the stage one by one, in front of their respective national flags on the giant dais. Indian singing sensation Sonu Niigaam’s rousing World Cup ode set the tone for the carnival of cricket. While the crowd cheered and a gentle breeze blew over the illuminated ground, the excitement associated with the ICC World Cup reached its crescendo.

Bangladesh is a nation proud of its heritage and upbeat about its future. And the World Cup is the perfect stage to show the world what the little nation with big dreams and heart is capable of. That sums up the sentiments expressed in passionately delivered speeches by Bangladesh Cricket Board Chairman Mostafa Kamal, Minister of Youth & Sport Ahad Ali Sarker and Minsiter of Finance Abul Maal Abdul Muhit (also the Chairman of ceremonies). ICC President Sharad Pawar then took the stage, welcoming all fans to the great big cricketing spectacle.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, addressing the crowd first in Bangla and then in English, expressed her happiness at the selection of Bangladesh as one of the host nations with the following speech:

“It is my great pleasure to be present at this colourful ceremony. I recall with gratitude the martyrs of the great Language Movement. I also recall the greatest Bengali of all time, father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We feel greatly privileged to co-host the cricketing extravaganza in our beautiful country. My thanks to the organisers, BCB officials and patrons for their immense labour to hold the World Cup successfully. I hope that the fraternity among the nations will further be strengthened through the World Cup”

A few moments later, the PM uttered the words: “I hereby declare the ICC World Cup 2011 games open”, her palm placed on a digital scanner. And right on cue, the stadium broke out in applause and a medley of fireworks and music.

The next part of the evening’s entertainment was a colourful pageant of dancers, dressed in all their finery, reflecting the different cultures that make up the subcontinent. As a medley of popular Hindi film songs filled the air, performers sporting enormous butterfly or bird wings and flower petals, delicately wrought, flitted around the stage and its surroundings.

Bangladeshi artistes, dressed in sparkling silver jackets, got the crowds to groove with them, even as scores of performers swayed yards of luminous sheets evoking an ocean filled with waves. Soon an ornamental boat, carrying a bevy of traditional Sri Lankan dancers, circled the stage, as if buoyed by the waves. Out of a giant oyster shell on stage emerged a performer dressed in pearly white. A range of vermilion and yellow dancers dotted the area around the dais, sporting traditional drums or daflis.

Still more performers joined the gathered artistes carrying giant cutouts with traditional animal motifs. As the stage was cleared with another display of fireworks, the captains of the cricket teams applauded the unfolding artistry. The spectacle culminated in a performance by the legendary Bangladeshi musical stars, Mumtaz, Sabina Yasmin and cross-border singing sensation Runa Laila. Ending her medley with the ever-popular Shahbaz Qalandar, she was clearly the darling of the audience.

Women in parasols, fishermen with their boats and nets, potters at their wheel, farmers with haystacks – all symbols of life in rural Bangladesh came together in a well-choreographed tableau next. A recreation of a historical event followed with performers bearing gigantic Bangla letters and placards evoking the Language Movement that the Prime Minister had alluded to in her speech. National flags made their way to centre stage as the giant screen flashed an excerpt from a speech by the national hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The entire range of performers then took the stage one last time, waving enthusiastically. It was Bangladesh’s moment in the international limelight – and the nation, represented by the thousands still milling outside the stadium singing, dancing, rejoicing, were making the most of it.

The loud, defiant strains of Bryan Adams’ Summer of ’69, a youth anthem for generations now, signalled that the ceremony had seamlessly morphed into a party. Let’s make a night to remember, another Adams classic, struck a chord with the audience. But the big crowd-pleaser was the proud declaration of a song – 18 til’ I die. As the song marched towards its close, with an exaggerated bit of solo guitaring in the end, it was time for the grand finale of the evening.

If the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll had been established by veteran singer Bryan Adams, then it was up to the celebrated Indian trio of musicians - Shankar, Ehsan and Loy - to encapsulate the mood of the tournament with their World Cup theme song. All the colourful dancers from the previous segments gathered on stage one last time in a glorious amalgamation embellished by light and fireworks effects.

And as the pyrotechnics filled the Dhaka sky, whirling dancers coming finally to a halt, the ICC World Cup 2011 had well and truly been flagged off. And what a rousing welcome it’s been.