Why will BCCI hold 40-min tribute before Women's Cricket World Cup opener?

The opening ceremony of the Women’s World Cup will feature a special 40-minute tribute to Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on Friday after a scuba diving accident.

He was 52. The celebrated singer was in Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival 2025. Festival organisers confirmed he died at Singapore General Hospital after the accident during a yacht trip.

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BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the cricket fraternity had decided to honour Garg during the World Cup curtain-raiser. "There is a huge grief and tragic situation prevailing in Assam, following Zubeen's death.

Keeping in consonance with that situation, and as a person who deserves some respect, the Assam Cricket Association and the BCCI will have a tribute programme during the opening ceremony. This will be our respect and tribute to Zubeen," Saikia said, as quoted by PTI. He added that the tribute was designed to pay respect to the stature and respect that the artist had garnered over the years. "It will be a 40-minute programme in memory of Zubeen and possibly the biggest tribute a cricketing fraternity can offer to him," Saikia stated.

The three-day North East India Festival, where Garg was scheduled to perform, was cancelled after the tragedy. He added that planning for the same will be complete for what will likely be one of the largest sporting tributes paid to an Indian musician. In addition, singer Shreya Ghoshal is set to perform during the mid-innings break of the tournament opener, marking a dual celebration of music and cricket on the global stage.

The World Cup is set to begin against the backdrop of a region in mourning, with the ODI world cup offering a platform to remember one of Assam’s most beloved voices.