Jamaican international superstar ‘Shaggy’, along with his fellow countryman Mr. Vegas, and Trinidad and Tobago Soca queen Fay-Ann Lyons, thrilled the thousands that turned up at the Providence National Stadium at Providence, on the East Bank Demerara, and the millions watching on television around the world when the ICC World T20 opened yesterday. The trio who, prior to yesterday’s short but rather exciting entertainment showpiece, promised an electrifying performance, delivered on this. Shaggy belted out several of his chart topping hits and Mr. Vegas and Fay-Ann performed the tournament theme song.

Before the international artistes were brought to the stage, locals Adrian and Jomo, better known as ‘X2’, wooed the cricket-thirsty fans with some hits of their own.

Meanwhile, Mr. Boombastic Shaggy took his many fans down memory lane with his retro tunes which were well received.
When Fay-Ann and Mr. Vegas did their bit, the Reliance Dancers took the field and danced along and in the stands and on the grass mound, with horns blaring and flags flying in true Caribbean style.

Tournament Director Robert Bryan said that what the world will see over the next two and half weeks, they will not be able to emulate, but they will appreciate.

This he refers to as the ‘Sportainment’; the mixture of sports and entertainment which Bryan has been speaking of as the trade mark of cricket in the West Indies.

The steel band, another truly Caribbean institution, played the national anthems of the teams. This has never been heard of at an ICC event, and more so in the T20 World Cup which is in its third staging, with the first two in South Africa in 2007, and England in 2009.
Numerous activities were held leading up to yesterday’s opening to help promote the ‘cricket vibes’, and that ended with the ‘Bring It’ bus tour.