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The 100-day schedule for the domestic leg of the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour has been announced ahead of its start date on 19 February – when it will commence its journey across the length and breadth of England and Wales, including three stops in the West Midlands.

The trophy will visit Wolverhampton on 15 March, Coventry on 17 March and Birmingham – which hosts five matches of the global sporting tournament at Edgbaston Stadium – on 18 April. The tournament takes place between 30 May – 14 July.

While supporting the development of grassroots cricket by visiting every first-class county, the Trophy Tour also aims to take cricket to new areas with stops at other towns and cities across England and Wales. The 100-day route showcases an array of different communities and celebrates multi-cultural Britain at its finest.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, the leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: 

“Over the years Wolverhampton has produced many sportspeople who have represented the city on the national and international stage. They include many cricketers, not least Vikram Solanki, who played for England and Worcestershire, Warwickshire's Jack Bannister who went on to become a respected commentator, and of course Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, who captained the England Women's World Cup team in 1973.

“It is a fitting tribute to them, and to Wolverhampton, that the Cricket World Cup Trophy will be coming to our city on Friday 15 March and that Wolverhampton will be able to play its part in this major international sporting occasion. 

“The Cricket World Cup will be an incredibly important event for the West Midlands, and we are looking forward to the eyes of the world being trained on Edgbaston when it hosts five matches, including the second semi-final, this summer.”

There will be a number of open events throughout the tour where fans will get the opportunity to get close to the trophy, including three ‘Super Saturdays’ in Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. These will combine music, special guests, entertainment and a street cricket tournament involving local businesses, fan groups and the public. 

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, added: 

“The arrival of the Trophy Tour to these shores really does bring home how close we are to the event getting underway. I hope the visit of the Trophy to our city will inspire people to engage with the tournament, the latest in a long line of world-class sporting events to come to Birmingham.”

Thousands of fans have already had the chance to catch a glimpse of the trophy during the international leg of the tour, with cricketing legends such as Brian Lara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and VVS Laxman visiting it along the way. The trophy has made stops at each of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 participating nations, with additional visits to countries in Europe and Africa, and as far as Nepal and the USA. By the time the Trophy Tour reaches England and Wales, it will have visited 18 countries worldwide. 

Fans can follow the trophy’s journey through the Trophy Tour section of the ICC Cricket World Cup website. The interactive map will follow the tour’s itinerary, outlining information about each stop. There will also be behind-the-scenes content across all ICC Cricket World Cup digital channels. 

The full #CWCTrophyTour schedule can be viewed here.

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director, Steve Elworthy said:

“This is another huge milestone in our journey to the Cricket World Cup, as we announce the 100-day Trophy Tour across England and Wales. 

“We have seen an incredible response from supporters as it’s made its way around the world, visiting communities across numerous countries. 

“The countdown to the tournament will feel very real when the trophy arrives in England and Wales, and we look forward to it visiting some iconic and special locations before the opening match on 30 May.”  

For more information about the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, please click here.

To find out how to get involved as the West Midlands prepares to host the tournament, please contact partners@wmgrowth.com.

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