THURSDAY`S glittering opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup in Dhaka`s Bangabandhu National Stadium has set the right tone. It was Bangladesh`s moment to shine as co-hosting international cricket`s premier event, in this case with Sri Lanka and India, is a major achievement for the country. Along with the usual pageantry, the captains of the 14 participating teams were wheeled into the stadium aboard cycle rickshaws, ubiquitous in the Bangladeshi capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed summed up the aspirations of many when she said: “I hope fraternity among the nations will further be strengthened through this World Cup.” Traditional hostilities between nations are usually put aside during such international competitions, with rivalry reserved for the sporting arena. Yet the reality is that politics is strongly intertwined with sports and there are some elements willing to puncture the spirit of camaraderie. Indian extremist outfit Shiv Sena has said its chief Bal Thackeray will decide if Pakistan is to be `allowed` to play in Mumbai — the Sena`s stronghold — should the men in green reach the final on April 2. The statement is in bad taste and it is hoped that such hate-mongering is drowned out by the cheers of cricket fans.
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