Why is BCCI honoring Zubeen Garg with a 40-Minute tribute at Women's World Cup opener?

As Guwahati gears up for four matches of the ICC Women's World Cup, starting with India vs Sri Lanka on September 30, the state of Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and the BCCI are going to pay tribute to late Zubeen Garg. The Assam singer and cultural icon passed away at the age of 52 in Singapore due to a scuba diving accident on Friday. 

Thousands of fans paid tribute to their icon at Gopinath Bordoloi Airport on Sunday, which the BCCI also recognizes by holding a tribute during the opening ceremony of the Women's World Cup. For the women’s world cup, we recognize the grief and tragedy prevailing in Assam after Zubeen's passing. In keeping with the situation, and as he deserves all due respect, the Assam Cricket Association and the BCCI we will have an attributable program as part of the opening ceremony. That, with respect and tribute we acknowledge Zubeen Garg. said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, a close friend of Garg.

A 40-minute tribute to Zubeen Garg is planned as it is expected to be the opener of the Women’s World Cup in Guwahati

The tribute will be presented as a 40-minute program that Saikia has referred to as, "undoubtedly the largest tribute the cricketing fraternity can provide him." Also, the well-known singer Shreya Ghoshal will kick off the proceedings with a performance in the mid-innings, combining music and cricket to showcase Garg's legacy.

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Garg was at the 2025 North East India Festival in Singapore, during which the catastrophes took place. Once he had passed, the remaining performances for the festival were cut short, and the cricketing community quickly arranged to honor his contributions both to music and his culture in Assam.

Saikia further spoke to the hope he has for the Indian women's team as the World Cup stands to be one for the ages, noting India and their recent series with Australia where they lost the ODI series 2-1, and they want desperately to end their ICC title drought. "Indian women's cricket has really come of age! They just did well in England, so this is a good time for them for such a big opportunity in women's history," he said.

As such, opening the Women’s World Cup in Guwahati will be a bittersweet combination of both sport and memorial celebration of India's cricket hopes and one of Assam's favourite cultural figures.