As Guwahati gears up to host its maiden ICC Women’s World Cup fixtures, the Assam Cricket Association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plan to host a tribute programme in the memory of the late singer Zubeen Garg.

A music sensation and a youth icon of the State, Garg passed away a couple of days ago in Singapore and as his mortal remains were brought in Guwahati on Sunday, thousands waited at the Gopinath Bordoloi Airport to pay him final tribute. And, to pay homage to Garg, who was also a cricket enthusiast, the opening ceremony of the ICC event will see a 40-minute show dedicated to the singer.

“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,” said Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the BCCI, and a close friend of the late singer.

“It will be a 40-minute programme in memory of Zubeen and possibly the biggest tribute a cricketing fraternity can offer to him,” he said, adding that noted singer Shreya Ghosal will also perform during the mid-innings break.

Saikia also suggested that India could break its title jinx in an ICC event when the action gets underway on September 30.

Lauding the team for its efforts in the just-concluded three-match ODI series against Australia, where it lost 1-2, Saikia said, “It was a very keenly contested series, which Australia won by 2-1. But India played extremely well. Australia is a very good team, but India is catching up. And till now, India has not won any ICC women’s trophy, so this is a big opportunity for the team to do well.”

“As the matches are being held in India as well as in Sri Lanka, everybody is backing our Indian team. Recently, they have done extremely well in England also, which is a big achievement for the Indian team. So, Indian women’s cricket has come of age. And I am sure they will make a remarkable performance in the upcoming World Cup. I hope that the jinx will be broken this time,” Saikia said.

India begins its campaign against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on September 30.