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Multiculturalism will be the focus of the T20 World Cup in Australia

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18th January, 2020
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Australia’s edition of the T20 World Cup later this year will deliver a cricketing feast laced with multicultural flavour, promised tournament CEO Nick Hockley at a briefing to Sri Lankan media in Melbourne recently.

Hockley says there will be a heavy emphasis on multiculturalism and an attempt to lure all communities in Australia to get involved in this exciting event, which is expected to have at least a billion viewers around the world.

All venues around Australia hosting World Cup games will be set up in a carnival-like atmosphere in and around the grounds, with food stalls and large-screen TVs set up outside venues for those who choose to remain outside the main arena, similar to when the Cricket World Cup was staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

The T20 World Cup is currently touring Australia to get the nation fully involved and promotional activities have been organised in schools and other institutions involved in the game.

The bushfire crisis has clearly had an impact on this effort, but the ICC believes the tournament will also help cricket fans support Australia through their attendance, which will aid the recovery of the stricken parts of the country.

Sri Lankan fans.

Sri Lankan fans will be out in force at the T20 World Cup. (Photo by Jono Searle – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

The ICC will be heavily involved in supporting initiatives orchestrated by Cricket Australia as well as through its association with UNICEF says Max Abbott, media and communications manager of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.

The latest edition will see a separation of the men’s and women’s competitions in an attempt to give equal reverence to the two competitions, unlike in the past, when the women’s competition was an under card to the men’s event.

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“We have seen a dramatic interest in the women’s game and have decided to have separate competitions to establish an equal footing and following among fans,” Hockley said.

The ICC initiative is bound to be successful while giving fans a break from attending both events simultaneously.

The Women’s World Cup kicks off on February 21 with hosts and defending champions Australia taking on India at the Sydney Showground Stadium. Led by Meg Lanning, the star-studded Aussies have fantastic talent in their ranks such as Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, and they look firm favourites to go back-to-back at home.

The men’s T20 World Cup begins on October 18 with the qualifying tournament for two spots in the main competition.

Former World T20 Cup champion Sri Lanka as well as Bangladesh have slid into the bottom rung and need to top their group to make it to the main stage of the World Cup. They will be pitted against Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Scotland, Oman and the Netherlands.

Sri Lanka’s fortunes have been tempered by bad administration rather than a lack of talent and ability.

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The appointment of former Pakistan, Australian and South African coach Mickey Arthur as head coach to replace the controversially sacked Chandika Hathurusingha after much turmoil at the last Cricket World Cup will infuse much-needed stability into the islanders’ fortunes as they regather their focus for the important tournament.

An on-song Sri Lanka are no pushover to any nation and they will naturally be intent on regaining their lost mojo, which has depressed their fans globally.

If there was a concern about their resurgence, it lies in the continued persistence with Lasith Malinga as skipper of the side. While there is no doubt of his ability with the ball even in his twilight years, his decision-making has been questionable, including recently in India where they were comprehensively thrashed in the three-match series.

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