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 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.
“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.
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.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Generally David it's supposed to be something people in western nations should aspire to from the propaganda we keep hearing and seeing. From what I can tell it's basically just means loving mass migration, but feel free to let me know what your ideas are. :silly:
David
Guest
If you don't know what it means, how can you be offended by it?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Exactly anon: we live on a multicultural planet. Shoving every single ethnic group into a western nation seems to be something we should be desiring and celebrating according to our governments and authorities. :sick:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes it should, but they need to shove this propaganda of "multiculturalism" (whatever that's supposed to mean) down our throats at every opportunity. :sick:
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Maybe the cricket should be the primary focus?
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
In the case of T20 what you actually get is a hybrid of American razza-matazz. The Indians have their interpretation of it and we have ours but at the end of the day we're all just wanna-be yanks. Pretty bloody sad imo.
anon
Roar Pro
You can get a multicultural experience in many places in the world. You don't need to come to Australia for it. That's not uniquely Australian. I would be disappointed if I went to India or Japan and it was a melting pot of disparate cultures rather than a uniquely Indian or Japanese cultural experience.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Australia might have more food outlets serving overseas food, but every migrant I know behaves pretty much the same as everyone else I know living here. Multiculturalism seems to be a lot more promoted than actually observed.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Why does atmosphere somehow default to being loud? You can have a quiet peaceful atmosphere too... Just because a certain portion of the crowd is carrying on like drunken louts doesn't make it good.
David
Guest
I do just watch it on Telly, hence my comment about CA giving overseas team a home game feel here.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
What is a unique Australian experience anyway?
JC
Roar Rookie
Being at the game is as much about the atmosphere as the spectacle. Particularly in the context of a world event. If you just want to watch the cricket quietly then maybe watch it at home on the telly?
JC
Roar Rookie
Australia is multicultural. That is part of the Australian experience. Do we hide the immigrants who now call Australia home so the tourists can get their 'uniquely Australia experience '?
3 bags empty
Guest
Does my head in , with the blaring music the second there’s a break in play.
3 bags empty
Guest
Tourette’s ?
David
Guest
Agree. As a cricket lover I want to go to a ground and watch cricket, not listen to someone play drums or trumpets. CA is making it so Australian fans don’t want to go and giving visiting teams a a home ground feel because their fans like it.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Sounds nice. The men’s tournament is to be held during a time of the year in southern Australia when the nights will be cold and an increased chance of rain compared to summer. Duckworth-Lewis here we come.
max power
Guest
yep, the English colonised and invaded countries of many different cultures
anon
Roar Pro
The tourists that come here want to a uniquely Australia experience, just like if I go to India I want an Indian experience not hang out with other Aussies.