Womens ODI World Cup: Opening ceremony toned down for Zubeen Gargs loss of life

The opening ceremony for the Women’s ODI World Cup has been toned down as Assam continues to mourn the loss of life of iconic singer-composer Zubeen Garg, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Saikia mentioned on Friday (September 26, 2025).

The inaugural match between co-hosts India and Sri Lanka could be held on September 30 at Guwahati’s Barsapara cricket stadium, one in all 5 the place the match will probably be held until November 2. The different venues are Indore, Navi Mumbai, and Visakhapatnam in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

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Addressing journalists together with Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Secretary Tridib Konwar at Barsapara, Mr Saikia mentioned the BCCI and ACA had grand plans for the opening ceremony earlier than September 19, the day Garg died in Singapore below mysterious circumstances.

“We determined to chop the frills and make it a solemn 40-minute programme devoted to the legendary Zubeen Garg. Renowned playback singer Shreya Ghosal can also be scheduled to sing as a tribute to Garg in the course of the break of the inaugural match,” Mr Saikia mentioned.

He additionally mentioned the ACA bought 5,000 tickets, priced ₹100 every, to be distributed to Garg followers on a first-come-first-serve foundation. These tickets could be out there on the Guwahati Sports Association workplace within the Nehru Stadium complicated on September 29.

“The World Cup, the largest worldwide cricket match to be held in Guwahati, is anticipated to generate curiosity in cricket amongst ladies throughout the northeast. Popularising the sport in smaller city centres and distant areas is the motive behind the BCCI’s determination to regularly transfer marquee matches to non-tier 1 cities,” Mr Saikia mentioned, including that Navi Mumbai was chosen as a venue particularly for logistical causes.

He additionally mentioned the BCCI has invited all of the captains of the Indian ladies’s cricket groups since 1975 for the inaugural match. “We plan to felicitate them for representing the nation and inspiring ladies to take up cricket professionally,” he mentioned.

The former Team India skippers who’ve confirmed their participation are Shubhangi Kuklarni, Nilima Joglekar, Sandhya Agarwal, Mamatha Maben, Shantha Rangaswamy, Purnima Rau, Chandrakanta Kaul, Anju Jain, Pramila Bhatt, Anjum Chopra, and Mithali Raj.

West Bengal’s Rumeli Dhar and Jhulan Goswami are anticipated to attend any of the 4 different matches to be hosted in Guwahati.

Neetu David, the second Indian lady cricketer to be inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame after Diana Edulji, may even be felicitated in the course of the inaugural match.