The Indian cricket governing body, the BCCI, is gearing up to hold its first-ever ceremony for the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 4th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is going to offer invites to members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and various cricketing bodies for a special event. All ten captains of the participating teams are anticipated to grace the ceremony as well. The grand affair is planned to feature notable icons from the cultural sector. Ahead of the tournament, the ICC will hold a formal briefing session for the captains to acquaint them with the essential laws and regulations.
Interestingly, reminiscent of an occurrence 12 years ago, when Bangladesh staged a remarkable opening ceremony for the World Cup in Dhaka, the BCCI intends to produce a similar atmosphere in 2023. The concept involves adding an Indian touch, complementing the event with our country’s vivid culture.
Although details are being kept hidden, the BCCI has a history of organizing such events, notably before each season of the Indian Premier League. In the previous 2023 event, luminaries like Arijit Singh, Rashmika Mandhana, and Tamannaah Bhatia graced the stage. It’s expected that a similar method will be adopted, maybe engaging more important figures as this program might be longer than normal.
Curiously, on the same day as this event, India is slated to host the Netherlands, Pakistan will compete against Australia, and Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in their separate warm-up matches. This means players like Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, and Pat Cummins, among others, can have a hectic day when they head to Ahmedabad on the morning of October 4.
After the ceremony, Babar, along with Dutch captain Scott Edwards, is likely to travel early to prepare for their encounter on October 6 at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
