CRICKET TAKES OVER MELBOURNE AS 100-DAY COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2022

• MCG turf dropped into Melbourne’s City Centre to mark 100 days-to-go until ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
• The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, launches 100-day global tour visiting ten new countries for the first time ever and all eight Australian State and Territories
• Additional tickets released today for 44 matches available here

The countdown to ‘The Big Time’ has officially begun with Melbourne’s iconic Yarra River the backdrop for a city centre cricketing arena created to celebrate 100-days-to-go until Australia hosts the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

Melbourne Cricket Ground’s hallowed turf took centre stage with the pitch relocated into the centre of Melbourne to mark 100 days to go until the world’s best cricketers from 16 teams compete for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket. Australian International stars Aaron Finch, Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck along with cricket legends Shane Watson, Waqar Younis and Morne Morkel teamed up with other Australian personalities to launch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan.

The Trophy Tour is set to visit 35 locations in 13 countries across four continents, more than ever before. The Men’s T20 World Cup trophy will make stops in Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Namibia, Nepal, Singapore and Vanuatu for the first time, taking the sport to more fans in different countries to get a glimpse of T20 cricket’s ultimate prize. The trophy will also visit 21 locations across all eight Australian State and Territories.

The Trophy Tour that is designed for anyone, anywhere at any time will enable fans to get involved from home with a 3D augmented reality filter, housed on the official T20 World Cup Facebook and Instagram channels. Fans are encouraged to get creative and show the world where you play cricket using the trophy filter. The best of the fan-generated images will be celebrated weekly and a lucky few will be rewarded with ICC Men’s T20 World Cup themed prizes.

Beginning in Melbourne and circling the globe, the Trophy Tour will make its final stop in Geelong on 16 October for the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 between 2014 Champions Sri Lanka and Namibia.

Fans can follow the trophy’s journey around the world on the T20 World Cup’s social media channels or via the dedicated Trophy Tour section on the T20 World Cup website.

Over 800,000 fans are anticipated to attend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 with additional tickets to all matches released today, with the exception of the India and Pakistan match on October 23. General allocation of tickets for this fixture were sold out within five minutes of going on public sale in February. Should more tickets become available for the fixture they will be released at a later date.

Australian men’s captain Aaron Finch said: “It’s an exciting time for cricket with so many world class teams coming out to play all around the country. Now that there’s just 100 days to go, you can feel the excitement building among the team about the prospect of playing in a home World Cup in front of our fans.

“In a World Cup every game is a tough game, and anyone can beat anyone on their day so the white ball cricket we’ve got coming up over the next couple of months is going to be crucial to make sure we are ready come the first ball of the World Cup in October.”

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “With just 100 days to go until the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup there is a real sense of excitement ahead of the 16 teams coming together in Australia to compete for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.

“Celebrating the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, is another important milestone in taking the Trophy to ten countries for the first time ever, once again showing our commitment to using the T20 format as a vehicle to grow the game and to engage new fans across the world.”

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, ambassador Shane Watson said: “As a player, there’s few things that can top playing in a home World Cup and I can’t wait to see the world’s best T20 players on the fast bouncy pitches in Australia. It’s going to be an incredible spectacle.

“Leading up to the event, I’m also looking forward to taking the T20 World Cup trophy around our beautiful country to give fans the opportunity to be part of this massive cricket celebration.”

Nissan Australia Managing Director, Adam Paterson said: “With 100 days until the first ball of the World Cup, Nissan is gearing up for a spectacular event across the country. We are proud to continue to play an important role in driving excitement and innovation, supporting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, with Nissan Ambassadors, Mel Jones and Mitchell Johnson behind the wheel.”

SCHEDULE – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan

• July 8-12 – Melbourne, Australia
• July 13-16 – Brisbane, Australia
• July 18 – Cairns, Australia
• July 19-20 – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
• July 21-22 – Helsinki, Finland
• July 23 – Edinburgh, Scotland
• July 24 – Glasgow, Scotland
• July 31 – Cologne, Germany
• August 1-2 – Frankfurt, Germany
• August 8-9 – Uluru, Australia
• August 10-14 – Darwin, Australia
• August 16-17 – Bali, Indonesia
• August 19-21 – Tokyo, Japan
• August 26 – Broome, Australia
• August 27-29 – Perth, Australia
• August 30-31 – Kathmandu, Nepal
• September 2-3 – Singapore
• September 5-6 – Nadi, Fiji
• September 7-8 – Port Vila, Vanuatu
• September 9-12 – Adelaide, Australia
• September 14 – Canberra, Australia
• September 17, 24, 25 – Regional NSW, Australia
• September 20-21 – Windhoek, Namibia
• September 22 – Walvis Bay, Namibia
• September 23-24 – Accra, Ghana
• September 28 – Devonport, Australia
• September 30 – October 2 – Hobart, Australia
• October 4-9 – Sydney, Australia
• October 13-16 – Geelong, Australia

ENDS

For media enquiries regarding the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, please contact:

Max Abbott
Media and Communications Manager
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee
E: max.abbott@t20worldcup.com.au
M: +61 409 810 915

Danielle Balales
PR Manager
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee
M: +61 401 790 363
E: danielle.balales@t20worldcup.com.au

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2022

• The ICC T20 World Cup is the pinnacle global event for T20 cricket, the game’s fastest growing format
• Australia was originally scheduled to host the event in 2020, before it was postponed due to COVID-19 and re-scheduled for 16 October – 13 November 2022.
• The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 will feature 16 international teams playing 45 matches with the final to played on Sunday November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
• Matches will be played in Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Brisbane (The Gabba), Geelong (Kardinia Park Stadium), Hobart (Bellerive Oval), Melbourne (MCG), Perth (Perth Stadium) and Sydney (SCG)
• It’s the first time Australia will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after a record-breaking women’s event, which was held in February – March 2020
• Australia will enter the eighth edition of the men’s event as defending champions after winning their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2021, defeating New Zealand in in the final played at Dubai International Stadium
• Tickets are accessibly priced with kids tickets available from just $5 to all Super 12 matches and adult tickets start from $20 in each host city
• Tickets are available to purchase at t20worldcup.com
• Travel packages are on sale via icctravelandtours.com
• Hospitality packages are available can be booked via T20WorldCupHospitality.com