The
2007 ICC World Cup is all set to rock the world in the coming days.
The mega inaugural ceremony of the event commenced on 12th
March at the Trelawny
Multi-purpose
stadium in Jamaica, West Indies. All 16 participating countries and
their players were present at the ceremony along with West Indies, the
host team.
Video
Tribute To International Cricket World Cup 2007
The ceremony was a ravishing three-hours show that reflected the
energy and vibrance
of the people and the region’s mixed cultural and historical
heritage. The event featured Machel
Montano
of Trinidad and amplifier, Tobago and Saint Vincent's international
singing talent, Kevin Lyttle.
Amongst other performers also present were veteran Caribbean artistes
Byron Lee, Third World, Arrow and Jimmy Cliff and also David Rudder. A
South African reggae artiste, Lucky Dubes
and The Duffy Brothers from Ireland also featured in the magnificent
event.
Opening
Ceremonies !
‘The Game of Love and Unity’ that has been declared as the
official song of the tournament was presented jointly by Rupee, Shaggy
and Fayann
Lyons. The performance was brilliant and what made it even more
important was the fact that it was the first time ever that the trio
ever performed together.
The performance of over 2,000 singers and dancers who rehearsed for
more than three months exposed some of the most creative and talented
Caribbean producers and choreographers. The event also showcased all
the nine venues of the tournament in a regaled spirit, geared up for
the mega matches and eagerly waiting the powerful performances.
The sixteen teams participating in the tournament will compete in a
pool stage (played in round robin format), then a "super 8"
stage, followed by semi-finals and a final. The teams will be divided
into four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group
will then compete in a "Super 8" format, similar to the
previous "Super 6" format, from which the semi-finalists
will be decided.
The sixteen 2007 World Cup teams are the largest ever selection for
the Cricket World Cup. Amongst the team that qualified automatically
after playing ODIs
are Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, South Africa, England, Sri
Lanka,
West Indies, New Zealand and Kenya. The other six that attained ODI
status include Kenya, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Netherland
and Scotland.
The first match of the tournament is scheduled between West Indies and
Pakistan on Tuesday, 13th
March at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The tournament is scheduled
over a 45-day span at the nine different venues. The final match of
the event is on 28th
April at Kensington
Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
The Windies
celebrate as they defeated Pakistan by 54 runs to win the opening
match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
Cricket fever is spreading rapidly across the globe and is soon about
to grip the planet. The coming days are going to be ruled completely
by the biggest event of the world. All cricket lovers shall be living
in a temporary euphoria experiencing an amalgamation of different
emotions- excitement, fear, anger and rejoice with every match.
