Ahmedabad, India – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that there will be no opening ceremony for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which kicks off on October 5.
The opening ceremony was originally scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 4, 2023.
It was expected to feature a star-studded lineup of Bollywood performers, including Ranveer Singh, Arijit Singh, Tamannaah Bhatia, Shreyas Ghoshal, and Asha Bhosle.
The BCCI still needs to release an official statement explaining the reason for the cancellation. Still, reports suggest that it may be due to a combination of factors, including budget constraints, time constraints, and logistical challenges.
The decision to cancel the opening ceremony has been met with mixed reactions from fans and experts. Some have expressed disappointment, while others have argued it is a wise decision given the current economic climate.
“I’m really disappointed that there won’t be an opening ceremony for the World Cup,” said one fan on social media. “I was really looking forward to seeing all the Bollywood stars perform.”
“I think it’s smart to cancel the opening ceremony,” said another fan. “The money saved can be used to improve the cricket pitches’ quality or support grassroots cricket.”
Cricket experts have also weighed in on the decision.
“I can understand the BCCI’s decision to cancel the opening ceremony,” said former India captain Sourav Ganguly. “It’s not an easy decision to make, but it’s the right one in the current circumstances.”
“I think the BCCI could have handled the situation better,” said former England captain Michael Atherton. “They should have announced the cancellation of the opening ceremony earlier, so that fans and performers had time to make other arrangements.”
Despite canceling the opening ceremony, the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is still expected to be a huge success. The tournament will feature the top 10 cricket teams in the world and is expected to attract a global audience of millions.
Event kicks off Oct 5
The tournament’s first match will be played between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. The final will be played at the same venue on November 19.
On the other hand, the decision is likely to save the BCCI a significant amount of money. Opening ceremonies can be very expensive to produce.
The BCCI has said that the money saved from canceling the opening ceremony will improve the quality of the cricket pitches and support grassroots cricket.
The BCCI has carefully weighed the options and decided what it believes is best for the tournament and the sport of cricket.
