Cricket World Cup to rake in Rs 1200cr, ESPN betting big

Rs 1,200 crore: That's the minimum amount riding on the Cricket World Cup that begins on February 19. And, official broadcaster ESPN Start Sports is keen on making the most ofcricket fever, CNBC-TV18's Sweta Sriram and Nikita Rana report.

It has been called a 'jewel' in ESPN Star's crown, and why not? The Cricket World Cup 2011 is the main event in the host of ICC events between 2007 and 2015. And, ESS has picked up exclusive global broadcast and marketing rights to all of these for a whopping USD 1.1 billion.

World Cup opener set to dazzle

Dhaka is braced for a sizzling opening ceremonytonight as the frenzy revolving around the ICCCricket World Cup 2011reaches fever pitch.

The magnificent Bangabandhu Stadium gala in the Bangladesh capitalwill host - amongst others - Bryan Adams, leading Bollywood singer, Sonu Nigam and the Indian trinity of Shanka, Ehsaan and Loy. Glitz and glamour galore on what promises to be a night to remember.

Not that we should be surprised. ICC opening nights are usually a treat to savour and if the buzz in Dhaka is anything to go by, the 2011 edition will surpass all expectations.

In cricket-mad Dhaka, even the dancers’ practice is sold out on ICC Cricket World cup opening cermony

In the space of a few furious minutes, a few thousand hands work their way through the narrow opening of the booth, bundles of taka notes clutched between fingers. As the hands are pulled out, their owners unclench their fists, broad smiles on their faces. An 8-inch piece ofpaper emerges, the word ‘Rehearsal’ on it in bold blue letters.

World Cup fever is yet to hit India fully, but here in Bangladesh, a day before the tournament opening ceremony, it’s a raging epidemic. How else do you explain the selling-out of dancers and singers practising?

Those who got into Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Stadium — venue of tomorrow’s opening ceremony — today must think of themselves as the luckiest citizens of thiscricket-mad country. Thecricket World Cup, they are saying here with absolutely no hint of hyperbole, is the biggest event since the nation was born in 1971.

Dhaka ready for glitzy World Cup opening ceremony

Dhaka: The ICC CricketWorld Cup is set to be ushered in with a grand opening ceremony here on Thursday as the game's showpiece event returns to the sub-continent after 15 years, shrugging off the controversy of Eden Gardens being stripped off a marquee match, involving co-hosts India.

The Bangladeshi capital, which has spruced up itself for the biggest event in their cricketing history, will take centrestage of the cricketing world with a two-hour spectacle of song, dance and laser shows at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Internationally-acclaimed rock star Bryan Adams, Indian singing trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Sonu Nigam will be among the performers to set the stage for the tournament, reflecting the increasing role the entertainment aspect has started to be associated with the game.

Two days later, Bangladesh and co-hosts India clash in the inaugural game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur, on Dhaka's outskirts to herald the beginning of 43 days of action spread across 13 venues in three countries.

The other host country Sri Lanka start off their campaign against lowly Canada in a Group Aencounter in Colombo on Sunday.

The sub-continent had its first date with the World Cup when India and Pakistan hosted it in 1987 before Sri Lanka joined them in 1996.

It is befitting that the World Cup will be held in the sub-continent this time when the region establishes itself as the nerve centre of the game, though 1992 champions Pakistan will not be one of the co-hosts and Bangladesh will be in the party in their silver jubilee year of initiation into one-day cricket.

The tenth edition of cricket's quadrennial showpiece, featuring 14 teams and 49 matches -- 29 in India, a dozen in Sri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh -- was not devoid of controversies.

It had a nightmare of an initial road as Pakistan was stripped of its rights to host 14 matches due to the volatile condition in the country, mainly after attack on the Sri Lankan players in Lahore in early 2009 though it will get its share of revenue even without holding matches.

The reasons for stripping Pakistan of the World Cup matches by the ICC had nothing much to do with the country's cricket board but it could not be said in the case of Indian authorities who failed to prepare the iconic Eden Gardens ready for the February 27 match between India and England.

With any marquee match involving India not scheduled in the Eden after the ICC shifted the India-England match to Bangalore, cricket lovers will not see the stadium in its magnificent best with nearly one lakh people turning up for a World Cup game and it is pity for a venue of such a fame.

On current form and considering the conditions, India have been billed as the top favourites by cricket experts and it would be a huge celebration for Indian fans if Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men lift the trophy on April 2 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

It would add to India's aura to its already muscle-flexing power as cricket's financial centre.

A World Cup win by India will also ensure the iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar the only success that has eluded him in his illustrious over two decade longinternational career, besides India bringing home the trophy after 28 years.