The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour 2023 has commenced with an ‘out of the world’ launch, quite literally. The World Cup trophy is on a worldwide tour before it eventually lands in India, where the tournament will be held. However, before going around the world, the International Cricket Council has decided to first send the trophy into outer space.
This extraordinary endeavour witnessed the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy being propelled into the stratosphere, elevating it to 36 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, 28 km higher than the highest peak on Earth, the Sagarmatha, also known as Mount Everest. Subsequently, the trophy made a captivating descent, skilfully landing at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The company that made this flight possible is Sent into Space, a United Kingdom-based space advertising, space education and space access company. Sent into Space skilfully attached the trophy to their custom-designed stratospheric balloon. Their state-of-the-art 4k cameras captured breathtaking visuals of the trophy delicately poised at the Earth’s atmospheric edge.
Embarking on an unprecedented scale, the 2023 edition of the Trophy Tour promises to be the most extensive to date, allowing fans across the globe to establish a profound connection with this highly coveted symbol of cricketing triumph. Commencing on June 27, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy will embark on a captivating journey encompassing 18 countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, USA, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, the United States of America, and the host nation, India.
Marking the first comprehensive Trophy Tour since 2019, the 2023 edition seeks to recreate the euphoric and festive atmosphere witnessed during the prestigious tournament. Through groundbreaking activations and events held in diverse nations, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour will provide a privileged opportunity for one million fervent fans to personally engage with this revered silverware.
Commenting on the launch of the Trophy Tour, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed, “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour is a momentous milestone in the countdown to what will undoubtedly be the most monumental ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to date. This extraordinary Tour will witness the iconic silverware gracing heads of state, initiating community initiatives, supporting cricket development programs, and paying homage to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks.”
Allardice further emphasised, “Cricket boasts an ardent following of over a billion enthusiasts, and our aim is to offer as many individuals as possible the opportunity to intimately connect with this illustrious trophy, a symbol that has been triumphantly hoisted by some of the most legendary figures in our beloved sport.”
Secretary of the BCCI, Jay Shah, added, “Cricket possesses an unparalleled ability to unify India, and excitement is mounting across the nation as we gear up to host the world’s top ten teams for six weeks of breathtaking cricketing action.”
“As the World Cup approaches, the Trophy Tour presents an extraordinary occasion for fans to be an integral part of the event, irrespective of their geographical location. traversing the landscape of India, the Tour aims to inspire communities, fostering a shared sense of excitement surrounding cricket’s greatest spectacle, while simultaneously showcasing the nation’s iconic venues, cities, and landmarks,” Shah concluded.
Commencing on June 27 in India, the Trophy Tour will embark on a global odyssey before returning to the host nation on September 4.
Full schedule of the Trophy’s Tour:
27 June – 14 July: India
15 – 16 July: New Zealand
17 – 18 July: Australia
19 – 21 July: Papua New Guinea
22 – 24 July: India
25 – 27 July: USA
28 – 30 July: West Indies
31 July – 4 August: Pakistan
5 – 6 August: Sri Lanka
7 – 9 August: Bangladesh
10 – 11 August: Kuwait
12 – 13 August: Bahrain
14 – 15 August: India
