ICC World Cup 2011: India to start with same spirit first match Vs Bangladesh

The pitch is red hot and ready for the first match in ICC world cup 2011 after the easy victories of Indian cricket team in the warm up matches against New Zealand in Chennai on Wednesday. M S Dhoni commenting on the same anticipates better achievements from team India, performing at the ICC WC 2011.

The first match of India in ICC cricket World Cup 2011 against Bangladesh is scheduled for Feb 19, 2011 (Saturday) in Dhaka. The Skipper M S Dhoni, wants to replicate the performances as happened in warm up matches, suggested while speaking to the media after the victory of the warm up match. 

As per now, the Indian cricket team led by the skipper M S Dhoni has arrived in Dhaka already in the midst of immense security for the first match again the co-host Bangladesh. The 15 member Indian cricket team is escorted by rapid action battalion commandos and police personnel to the Sheraton Hotel in two vehicles.

All the routes from the Hazrat Shah Jalal airport to the hotel was heavily guarded by the police for the grand opening of the ICC World Cup 2011 which will be attended by all 14 captains of the participating nations. This is claimed to be the biggest event in their cricketing history, will put on a two hour long spectacle of song, dance and laser shows during the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony would show the various performances including international and Indian celebrities, like Bryan Adams and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy and also Sonu Nigam. The show is supposedly run for two hours and then after two days the first match of India would be played. At this time, all eyes are still at Dhaka and the rest of the co-host nations for the glamour clad cricket season.

PSU insurers in talks with ICC for WC insurance cover

New Delhi: Eyeing a multi-crore deal, four state-run insurers, besides General Insurance Corporation are in talks with ICC for insuring the cricket World Cup 2011 commencing on 19 February.

India will host 27 matches at eight venues, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Gujarat and Nagpur.

The state-owned re-insurance firm General Insurance Corporation (GIC) and the four PSU general insurance companies , United India Insurance, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance and National Insurance would insure the one and a half month long event.

“The General Insurance Corporation is finalising the insurance cover for the one and half month long cricketing event. It all depends on the total cost involved in hosting the games and the sum would be decided soon,” United India Insurance chairman and managing director G Srinivasan said.

The 2011 World Cup would begin on 19 February and end on 2 April. The broadcasting rights for the international sporting event is with ESPN and the telecaster has reportedly asked for a cover of over Rs. 500 crore.

He said the insurers would provide cover broadly to organisers of the event and media telecaster.

“Insurance cover would be to organisers in the event of cancellation and also to media for revenue loss arising out of loss of advertisement in telecasting the games,” Srinivasan said.

The insurance cover would compensate for any loss arising from cancellation due to a natural calamity, like earthquake, floods or riot, and terror attacks.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) cricket World Cup is the showpiece event of the cricketing calendar and takes place every four years, with matches contested in a 50 overs per side format.

Apart from India two other Asian countries, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would together host a total of 49 matches of the World Cup.