Europe, 30 August 2023: The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour raced through Europe, leaving a trail of excitement and unification in its wake, as it continued to attract the attention of cricket fans. This phase of the tour, which included visits in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, highlighted cricket’s attractiveness on a worldwide scale and announced the impending ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The Trophy was welcomed onto the track at the Dutch Grand Prix, where captain Scott Edwards presented it on the starting grid amid a sea of fervent Dutch Formula 1 fans, following the Netherlands’ recent dramatic qualification campaign that culminated in their first Cricket World Cup berth since 2011.
The Trophy not only traveled to famous Dutch locations, but also went to a domestic final match. Before the Netherlands were declared champions in front of the Trophy and cricketing greats, national heroes Edwards, Max O’Dowd, and Aryan Dutt led a clinic for young players during the day-long cricket festival.
The Trophy was welcomed in the UK as well for an enthralling four-day tour of The Hundred. The renowned silverware was hosted at iconic locations including The Oval, Headingley, Old Trafford, and Edgbaston throughout its voyage across the nation. Beyond the games, the Trophy offered special chances for spectators to get up close to the ultimate trophy, stoking interest in the country’s defense of their 2019 title.
The Trophy made a visit in Paris, the city of love, where it was presented at an elegant gala held atop the Eiffel Tower. At the top of the tower, a historic photo opportunity with Mithali Raj offered a stunning perspective of the city. The Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, and the River Seine were all stops on the Trophy’s journey, where it stood beside well-known Parisian sites and was immortalized by street artists.
Former India Women’s Cricket Team captain Mithali Raj said, “It was truly an honor for me to participate in the ceremony where the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy was revealed.”
Raj was speaking during the unveiling of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy in Paris. The chance to meet the brilliant French women’s cricket team, though, brought an extra level of excitement. A highlight was having deep chats with them. The event took on much more significance as a result of their recent promotion to division 1. This occasion gives them inspiration as they aim to not only see the trophy unveiled but also to aspirationally represent their country in renowned competitions like the World Cup and the Olympics.
“Well, I think such events boost one’s dream because, yes, one can aspire and have the talent, but when you actually see what you’re playing for right there in front of your eyes, you know it’s a very different feeling,” she continued. And when we were young, our top goal was to play for our nation, win the World Cup, and represent our nation.
For many players who likely have never played cricket before, to actually see the trophy there, and for a country like France to have both their women’s and men’s teams in the competition, is a major deal. To compete with the greatest like England, Australia, and India at the international level, I’m sure that all of them would put in a lot of effort at some time.
The tour stopped in Rome, Italy, where the Trophy visited the Colosseum and the city’s famous Olympic Stadium, the Stadio dei Marmi. Rome is another growing cricket nation. Both locations, steeped in tradition, served as the ideal setting for the forthcoming clashes in India later this year. When the Trophy arrived in Milan, it first posed in front of the magnificent Duomo at sunrise before moving on to the San Siro soccer stadium to capture the spirit of the city.
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