Lankans can watch World Cup opening Monday morning

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

WORLD CUP: The West Indians who have been given the honour of hosting the 9th Edition of ICC World Cup, are determined to put on show a memorable opening ceremony to beat all other previous openings in Jamaica today. Sri Lanka would be able to watch the opening on Monday morning.

The West Indies comprises several different countries and they have banded together to put on show an opening ceremony that will be remembered by all.

The opening will embrace the different cultures and traditions of the countries conducting the tournament and the organisers are keeping every event a secret.

The West Indians have honoured a living legend in Sir Garfield Sobers and asked him to do the opening of the World Cup tournament.

To the present generation, Sir Gary is only history. But to those who were fortunate to see him in action, he was simply marvellous. Be with bat, ball or fielding Sir Gary was a marvel.

Like the great Sir Donald Bradman who did wonders with the bat, Sir Gary could do wonders with bat, ball and as a fielder. Both were of a different generation and mould and never the likes of these two marvels be seen again.

Sri Lanka had the good fortune to see the capabilities of Sir Gary when he played here after their wonderful tour of Australia in 1960/61. It was called the 'Daily Mirror' match which was organised by the then Editor-in-chief of the Times Group the late Felix Goonewardena and was played at the Colombo Oval.

After a tour of Australia led by another great Sir Frank Worrell, the Windies by their deeds, brought spectators flocking and rekindled the interest of cricket with some astonishing cricket which saw the Aussies parade the streets and give the Windies a ticker tape farewell.

Sir Gary gave a glimpse of his capabilities in that game and what he did will still be etched in the memory of those fortunate to see him perform.

Sir Gary had been nominated by the Local Organising Committee of Jamaica to open the tournament and his choice was enthusiastically received by the rest of the West Indies.

According to Robert Bryan, CEO of the Jamaica Organising Committee, Sir Gary is the embodiment of everything that cricket means to the region and therefore an obvious choice for this stellar role.

'Quite simply, he is the best of the best and in keeping with CWC's theme of hosting the 'Best Cricket World Cup Ever', his was an automatic and unanimous selection.'

According to Sir Gary who is based in Barbados where the final will be played, he is humbled and overjoyed that he has been honoured in this manner.

While Sir Gary will be the cynosure of all eyes at the opening, there are rumblings that the tournament itself will fall short of expectations.

That is because not everything is in order to complete a cricket carnival of this magnitude. Not all venues have been completed. Also transport would be found wanting what with roads yet not complete.

In addition accommodation would be a problem and visitors are not going to find everything to their liking. All said and done, one hopes that the tournament would be a success and that the visitors would have the least to complain.