The ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 will not have an opening ceremony, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This is a departure from previous editions of the tournament, where there was always an official opening ceremony before the first match. The opening fixture of the World Cup will be between defending champions England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
A report on the Rev Sports website revealed that the traditional opening ceremony will not take place. Initially, the BCCI had planned a lavish ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 4, a day before the tournament’s inaugural match at the same venue.
The opening ceremony was expected to feature popular Bollywood personalities like Ranveer Singh, Arijit Singh, Tamannaah Bhatia, Shreyas Ghoshal, and Asha Bhosle. It was also anticipated to include fireworks and a laser display to mark the beginning of the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
The opening ceremony was scheduled to start at 7 PM IST, immediately following the Captains’ Day event at the Narendra Modi Stadium. While the Captains’ Day event is still on the schedule, there has been no official announcement regarding the cancellation of the opening ceremony.
All 10 team captains, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, will gather in Ahmedabad for Captains’ Day. Team India will begin their tournament campaign three days later in Chennai, where they will face Australia, who are aiming for their sixth World Cup title.
One of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament, the India vs Pakistan clash, is set to take place on October 14 in Ahmedabad. The BCCI is considering organizing a function in Ahmedabad before this blockbuster match between the two rival nations.
The Indian team is in excellent form, having won the Asia Cup 2023 and a home series against Australia. They are ready to compete in the World Cup and showcase their skills. On the other hand, the Pakistani team has had a lackluster performance in the Asia Cup and has been dealing with internal issues among their veteran players. Additionally, they have suffered the loss of fast bowler Naseem Shah to injury. It will be interesting to see how the Pakistani team overcomes these challenges in the upcoming tournament.