WT20 2016 trophy to depart on global journey on Sunday

Mumbai, Dec 12- The International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 India 2016 trophy will go on a global journey from here on Sunday, before returning to New Delhi on February 1.

The trophy will pass through 12 countries taking part in the tournament which will be staged in India from March 11 to April 3 next year, the ICC said in a release on Saturday.

During its journey, the trophy will be on display at domestic and international cricket matches, as well as at various public places, which will enable the fans to capture a very special moment with the most prestigious silverware in the shortest format of the world cricket.

“The ICC World Twenty20 2016 trophy tour has been designed to not only promote the tournament but also to engage with our fans and provide them the first opportunity to get close to the trophy, which will be lifted by the winning captain on April 3 in Kolkata,” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said.

Scotland will be the trophy’s first port of call, before it travels to Ireland, England and the Netherlands as part of its European leg.

Scotland and Ireland staged a successful ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in July and, along with the Netherlands, qualified for the event proper. England, under the captaincy of Paul Collingwood, won the tournament in Barbados in 2010.

The trophy’s African safari will be from January 2-7, during which it will make appearances in Harare (January 2 and 3) and Cape Town (January 5-7).

Pakistan will be the trophy’s first stop-over in the subcontinent (January 11 and 12), before it moves on to Bangladesh (January 14 and 15) and then Sri Lanka (January 17 and 18). Pakistan won the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord’s in 2009, while Sri Lanka will defend the title they won in Dhaka last year.

On the Trans-Tasman tour, the trophy will arrive in Wellington in New Zealand on January 21 and will then head to Australia on January 26 where it will be displayed in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney until January 31. 

After a hugely successful ICC World Cup 2015, Australia will host the seventh edition of the World Twenty20 in 2020.

From Sydney, the trophy will return to New Delhi on February 1 and will then start its domestic tour by making appearances at each of the venues that will host the WT20 matches.

Agency