``I hereby declare the Wills International Cup Tournament open,'' was her brief announcement amidst thunderous cheers and claps from thousands of crickets fan at the stadium in the sunny afternoon.

Releasing a white pigeon and a bunch of coloured balloons the Prime Minister declared the gala tournament open at 1:50 pm.

She was later introduced to the players and officials of the New Zealand and Zimbabwe teams, playing the lone pre-quarter final in the opening match of the cricket carnival.

After opening the tournament, the Prime Minister took her seat in the VVIP gallery tastefully decorated with flowers and enjoyed the match for nearly one hour. The smiling Hasina enjoyed both batting and bowling and typically expressed her joy as a head of the government does over the good bowling of the New Zealand team and good batting of the Zimbabwe team.

Earlier, ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya handed over a cheque of Tk 50 (US Dollars 100,000) for the Prime Minister's relief fund.

``On this occasion, the cricket fraternity of the world extends its good wishes to the Bangladesh community,'' Dalmiya said. `` The ICC wishes to make a token participation in the Prime Minister's appeal fund.''

He said the ICC must thank Bangladesh as this exciting tournament is the first of its kind across the world and the ICC extends its warm greetings to the sports-lovers of Bangladesh.

The ICC President also termed the gala cricket show as the first real step of the ICC towards realisation of its noble objective to globalise the game.

``The choice of Bangladesh as a venue symbolises the ICC's commitment towards spreading the gospel of this great game far and wide,'' he said.

About ICC's bid to raise funds through this tournament, he said it is imperative to generate necessary resources in order to translate the ICC's vision of globalisation of the game into reality.

`` ... Wills International Cup promises to transcend newer heights of competition in cricket - nine nations, one chance,'' said Dalmiya who reached Dhaka here on Friday afternoon and later handed over the trophy of the tournament to Bangladesh Cricket Board. He also highly praised the superb hospitality and creativity that hosts the mega cricketing spectacle of the decade - the Wills International Cup.

BCB President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury and State Minister for Sports Obaidul Quader were also present on the occasion. Ministers, MPs, political leaders, journalists and thousands of cricket fans were present at the stadium to the enjoy the opening match.