The upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup that’s scheduled to be played early next year in South Africa had an opening event, the Trophy Tour launched on the 20th of November (Sunday) which saw over 2,000 children take part in cricket activities at the launch event to celebrate World Children’s Day alongside a few from the female Proteas unit.
The Trophy Tour commenced in Johannesburg which saw over 2,000 children take part in a series of cricket clinics and workshops as part of the celebration of World Children’s Day. Female Proteas stars in Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk, Tumi Sekhukhune and Raisibe Ntozhake were also part of the event.
Following the response from Johannesburg, 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 fans the opportunity to connect with their stars and get a closer view of the silverware as well.
To add more flavour to the Trophy Tour, alongside the public visits, the Trophy Tour will also make it to some of the iconic females that have shaped South Africa and its communities, as well as some of the popular landscapes, be it the Kruger National Park or the coastline of Cape Town.
Trophy Tour, Timeline :
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 Jan – 1 Feb : Paarl Schools
10 February : Opening Match, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023
Dane van Niekerk, who was present at the event, had the following to say, “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.”
Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief, on the Trophy Tour commented, “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.”
(Inputs and quotes sourced from ICC media release)
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