Let Cricket World Cup 2011 begin - Bangladeshi fans celebrate outside the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of Thursday's opening ceremony
It was a lively atmosphere inside the stadium too as more than 21,000 cricket fans packed the stands to witness the ceremony that launches the 49-match tournament
Fourteen teams - including England and their skipper Andrew Strauss - are set to play in the tournament in Sri Lanka and India over the next six weeks
All 14 captains arrived at the ceremony in traditional style on cycle rickshaws
They were serenaded by Indian singer Sonu Nigam live on stage
And they got the chance to see Cricket World Cup mascot Stumpy, who will no doubt be there when Bangladesh play India in the opening match on Saturday in Mirpur
A total of 3,500 performers lit up Bangabandhu National Stadium in a ceremony that cost $30m (�18.6m)
They showed off the costumes, dances and songs of local cultures
And put on some spectacular displays, including this sea of performers in a pink boat
But the most spectacular moment came when acrobats played out an aerial cricket match featuring a laser beam ball
Before Canadian singer Bryan Adams (right) and his band took to the stage to rock the crowd
And a colourful and noisy firework display brought the two-hour event to a close
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