Photo Credit: ICC
- The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour driven by Nissan was launched on Sunday 20 November
- Over 2,000 children took part in cricket activities at the launch event to celebrate World Children’s Day alongside female Protea stars
- Schools, malls and cricket festivals will play host during the 80-day Trophy Tour, allowing fans to get up close to the trophy across the three host cities and beyond
- The trophy stops in schools in Gqeberha before heading to KwaZulu-Natal region and Johannesburg in the coming week
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour driven by Nissan commenced its journey through South Africa on Sunday as more than 2,000 children took part in a series of cricket clinics and workshops in Johannesburg in celebration of World Children’s Day.
As well as getting up close to the silverware, the Trophy Tour launch event gave the young participants a chance to play alongside Protea heroes Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk, Tumi Sekhukhune and Raisibe Ntozhake. The occasion kicked off an exciting build up period ahead of the showpiece Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, where 10 teams will battle it out from 10 February.
Following the dynamic scenes of World Children’s Day, the Trophy Tour has since embarked on an 80-day journey around South Africa. It will make an appearance at schools, malls and a variety of other cricket activations, allowing new and existing fans the opportunity to connect with the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.
Alongside these public visits, the Trophy Tour will celebrate some of the iconic females that have shaped South Africa and its communities, as well as some of the popular landscapes that grace the country, from the breathtaking plains of Kruger National Park to the vibrant coastline of Cape Town.
Having set off on its route, Gqeberha plays host to the early stages of the Trophy Tour in a series of school visits between 23-25 November, before it heads north to schools across the KwaZulu-Natal region (28-30 November) and Johannesburg (1-2 December).
In December, the Trophy Tour then moves onto malls in the host cities, where it will be showcased for fans in Gqeberha, Paarl and finally Cape Town in the run up to the Christmas period. Beach and street cricket festivals will then land in December and January as the Trophy Tour motors on, before it arrives at venues hosting the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup – Benoni and Potchefstroom.
The last leg of the Trophy Tour visits schools in Benoni and Potchefstroom followed by Cape Town and Paarl. The silverware then takes centre stage for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opening fixture between hosts South Africa and Sri Lanka on Friday 10 February at Newlands, Cape Town.
Commenting on the launch of the Trophy Tour and its upcoming journey across South Africa, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “The start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour driven by Nissan marks an important milestone in the development of the game, not least in South Africa.
“With the T20 format firmly positioned as the growth vehicle for the sport, we are delighted to partner with Nissan to create opportunities for fans around the country to see the Trophy up close and be inspired.
“With South Africa as hosts of both the Women’s T20 World Cup and the very first edition of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, it gives cricket a wonderful platform to build on recent momentum in the women’s game and ultimately continue to grow the sport around the world.”
Following her appearance at the Trophy Tour launch event, South Africa international Dane van Niekerk added: “Women’s cricket is undergoing a rapid period of growth and to see South Africa hosting two landmark women’s events back-to-back is a great opportunity for the sport.
“The opportunities also provided to fans as part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour driven by Nissan are also special, and they promise to build excitement as we head into a momentous period for cricket.
“There is no better time to be involved in women’s cricket,” van Niekerk added.
Fans can follow the trophy’s journey through South Africa on the T20 World Cup social media channels or via the dedicated Trophy Tour section on the T20 World Cup website.
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup are available here.
Trophy Tour Schedule Key Dates:
23-25 November: Gqeberha Schools
28-30 November: KwaZulu-Natal Schools
1-2 December: Johannesburg Schools
8-11 December: Nelson Mandela Bay, Bay West Mall
15-18 December: Paarl Mall
21-24 December: Canal Walk Mall, Cape Town
28 December: Beach Cricket Festival
17 January: Benoni Schools
20 January: Potchefstroom Schools
24 January: Street Cricket, Gqeberha
26-27 January: Cape Town Schools
30 January – 1 February: Paarl Schools
10 February: Opening Match, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023
Name of Author: ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket, founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference. Renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, it became the ICC in 1987. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, the ICC has 108 member nations.
