Ahmedabad: Excitement is building as the countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is well underway. The world will be watching as the tournament kicks off with a thrilling opener between England and New Zealand on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera. Earlier reports had suggested that the Narendra Modi Stadium might host an opening ceremony on October 4; however, plans for this extravaganza have reportedly been called off. Instead, the captains of the 10 participating teams will have a photoshoot with the World Cup trophy on Wednesday.

According to sources from the Gujarat Cricket Association, there are no plans for an opening ceremony for the World Cup 2023. Instead, a photo session with all the team captains and the World Cup trophy has been organized for October 4. The team captains are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad by tomorrow morning, visit the stadium, and then participate in the photo session. After the photo session, all the captains will return to their respective teams.

Captains of all participating teams:

– India: Rohit Sharma
– Pakistan: Babar Azam
– England: Jos Buttler
– Australia: Pat Cummins
– New Zealand: Kane Williamson
– Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka
– Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan
– Netherlands: Scott Edwards
– South Africa: Temba Bavuma
– Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi

While official details of the World Cup opening ceremony were not released by the ICC or the BCCI, reports had suggested that top Bollywood singers and renowned international stars were to grace the stage and set the event ablaze. The grand event was scheduled to commence at 7 PM IST and was likely to feature several Bollywood stars, including Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan, along with renowned singers such as Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh, and the legendary Asha Bhosle, Shankar Mahadevan. However, all these plans have been canceled, including festivities like a laser show, fireworks, and a showcase of India’s rich cultural heritage.

It is also noteworthy that Ranveer Singh has collaborated with Music Director Pritam for the official anthem of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, called ‘Dil Jashn Bole,’ which was launched last month. “Dil Jashn Bole’ can be found on various streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Gaana, Hungama, Resso, Wynk, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Soon, enthusiasts will have the pleasure of tuning in to the anthem on radio stations like Big FM and Red FM.” – DeshGujarat