Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the 16-team meet at 6pm. The gala event involving the future stars has already created enormous enthusiasm among the cricket lovers of the tenth Test-playing nation.

The hosts Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will hope to use the three-hour spectacle to highlight the warmth and hospitality of its sport-loving people and the diverse culture. Bangladesh Television will beam the opening ceremony live from the big bowl. The ceremony will also try to symbolize the youthful exuberance through a variety of physical displays by nearly a thousand performers representing various organizations. The opening ceremony will be rounded off by a fireworks display.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani and chief executive Malcolm Speed will arrive today to grace the occasion.

The youth World Cup, one of the three major events in the ICC calendar, will be the second biggest cricket showcase in the country after the Mini World Cup in 1998.

Although it is a development event rather than a money-spinner, however it provides Bangladesh the opportunity to give exposure to its cricket infrastructure and inject greater involvement of youths into the glorious game.

The real battle on the field will however commence on February 15 at eight different venues spread across the country. The first two days of the competition will also mark the baptism of two new venues including the spectacular Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

Among the participating teams, Nepal, England and Canada were the first to arrive here. The other 12 teams including defending champions Australia will fly into the city today.

The sixteen teams will be split into four groups to feature in the first round of the 25-day meet. The final takes place on March 5.

Bangladesh, whose only success in the last three editions of the juvenile meet was winning the Plate final against West Indies in South Africa, will be aiming to go one better on home soil. But they have been placed in a difficult group with India, New Zealand that also includes Scotland.

Cricket fans can enjoy every minute of the opening ceremony by purchasing a five taka ticket from three different branches of Janata Bank.