The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced an expanded partnership with the Emirati multinational logistics company, DP World.
Since their partnership in June 2023, DP World and the ICC have collaborated closely to distribute cricket equipment at the grassroots level and provide efficient logistics at the ICC’s pinnacle tournaments. DP World has now been elevated to the Premier Partner tier of the ICC’s portfolio, underlining the brand’s ongoing dedication and mission to further develop the sport globally.
The news comes as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, with 55 matches scheduled to take place across nine host locations in the United States and the West Indies from June 1 to 29. The ICC World Cup will be held for the first time in the United States, with 16 group stage matches taking place in New York, Texas, and Florida.
DP World already had a key part in this World Cup, providing specialised solutions for shipping 10 grass pitches cultivated in Florida over 1,200 miles to the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York and the nearby practice facility. Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions’ unique techniques were used to create the pitches, which were fostered by LandTek Group, a turf expert headquartered in the United States.
A fleet of nearly 20 vehicles moved both match and practice pitches north over a two-day period. Each pitch was carefully set up for transit and wrapped to avoid degradation en route to New York. DP World’s progressed logistical abilities then made sure that the pitches at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium were transported in the most efficient and sustainable manner possible.
Additionally, DP World leveraged its unique position of operating in 74 countries throughout six continents to promote grassroots cricket through the Beyond Boundaries Initiative, which aims to empower communities by delivering kits and equipment via repurposed shipping containers. The idea was announced on the eve of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, with ten kits committed for every 100 runs made by a team throughout the event. Over 2,500 kits have already been pledged, with 1,750 distributed to thousands of aspiring cricketers in India, South Africa, and the UAE.
DP World’s effort is closely related to the ICC’s goal of improving cricket systems and growing the game across the globe, and as a result of the expanded partnership, DP World will now collaborate with the governing body on the growth of its criiio programme, which encourages and celebrates the various ways in which cricket is played around the world.
DP World Chief Communications Officer, Daniel van Otterdijk, said, “From the delivery of the World Cup pitches to New York, to our continued efforts to grow the game through our Beyond Boundaries initiative, DP World’s partnership with the International Cricket Council has seen us collaborate on empowering people across the world to enjoy the sport at every level. This summer’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sees the world’s most iconic players take to pitches transported by DP World’s specialist smart logistics expertise.
“It makes perfect sense, given all we have achieved to date, that we progress to being a Premier Partner as we continue to strive towards the growth of the game for people of all ages and backgrounds all around the world. With our operations, there are no limits or boundaries to where cricket can go.”
ICC Chief Commercial Officer, Anurag Dahiya, said, “DP World has been a highly supportive and active partner of the ICC, and we are very pleased with their upgrade to Premier Partner status, which highlights the significant value our partnerships bring to global brands. ICC partnerships are based on shared values, and DP World has consistently shown a strong commitment to growing the game at every level globally. The ICC is proud to continue our journey at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and beyond, confident that working with industry experts like DP World makes expanding cricket to new regions and audiences much easier.”
DP World will deliver the match balls for all 55 World Cup contests, including the Trophy Tour, which takes the cutlery to the tournament. The agreement will last four years and will encompass the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.