Will the Inaugural Ceremony of the World Cup Honor Zubeen Garg?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BCCI to honor Zubeen Garg at the World Cup opening.
- Musical tribute featuring top artists to commemorate the legend.
- Guwahati hosts its first World Cup match.
- Extensive security measures and traffic plans will be in place.
- India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the Women’s World Cup 2025.
Guwahati, Sep 26 (NationPress) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to honor the late Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg during the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia shared with the media that the BCCI, in collaboration with the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), will host a ceremonial event before the World Cup’s opening match. The tournament kicks off with India facing Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
“This marks the first occasion Assam is hosting a World Cup match. We encourage everyone in the city, the state, and the entire Northeast to participate in this momentous event and pay their respects to Zubeen Garg, who resonated with fans across generations,” Saikia stated to reporters.
Initially, the opening ceremony was planned as a grand celebration. However, in light of the unexpected demise of Zubeen Garg in Singapore on September 19, the BCCI decided to downscale the festivities.
Instead, a 40-minute musical tribute will take place, featuring performances from renowned artists such as Papon (Angarag Mahanta), Joy Barua, Shreya Ghoshal, and the Shillong Choir, all in remembrance of Zubeen Garg.
Saikia had previously mentioned this when he submitted his nomination at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai earlier this week, indicating that discussions were underway for a special ceremony honoring the singer.
With India playing on the opening day, the stadium is expected to reach its full capacity of around 40,000. Comprehensive security measures, including multiple layers of security and traffic management plans, have been enacted. Given that the match coincides with Mahashtami during Durga Puja, additional traffic restrictions will also be implemented.
India and Sri Lanka are jointly hosting the Women’s World Cup 2025, with matches set to occur at four venues across India — including Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Navi Mumbai — along with Colombo in Sri Lanka.