The ICC T20 World Cup is 100 days away, and on Friday, a bevvy of cricket luminaries, including the likes of Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Waqar Younis, and Morne Morkel, launched the "World Cup Trophy Tour" on the venerable turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The greatest male cricket players from 16 different nations will compete in the event, with Finch's Australian team determined to retain their championship from the previous year. The men's tournament is being held in Australia for the first time, and the women's version will follow in 2020.
The time leading up to the start of the mega-event, according to Finch, will be important to his team's prospects of maintaining the title.
"With so many top-tier teams travelling throughout the nation to compete, it's an exciting moment for cricket. With only 100 days left, the team's anticipation for the possibility of competing in a home World Cup in front of our supporters is growing "ICC cited the Australia white-ball captain's comment.
Finch, who is attempting to recover from a protracted slump, continued, "In a World Cup, every game is tough, and anyone can beat anyone on their day. So, the white-ball cricket we've got coming up over the next couple of months is going to be crucial to make sure we are ready come the first ball of the World Cup in October.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup Trophy will tour four continents before arriving back in Geelong on October 16, when the competition begins.
The visit, according to ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, represents a significant turning point in the tournament's hosting.
"Celebrating the beginning of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, is another crucial milestone in taking the trophy to 10 countries for the first time ever. It also demonstrates our commitment to using the T20 format as a means of expanding the game and attracting new fans around the globe.
There is "a real sense of excitement ahead of the 16 teams coming together in Australia to vie for the highest prize in T20 cricket with just 100 days till the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup"
The trophy will go to 35 locations across 13 nations and four continents throughout its tour. For the first time, the T20 World Cup trophy will visit Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Namibia, Nepal, Singapore, and Vanuatu, bringing the sport to more people in various nations.