Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 29, 2024: The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced an expanded partnership with DP World, a leading provider of smart end-to-end supply chain logistics globally.
ICC and DP World have worked closely together since partnering in June 2023, delivering cricket equipment at grassroots level and providing smart logistics at the ICC’s pinnacle events. DP World has now moved into the Premier Partner tier of the ICC portfolio, reaffirming the brand’s long-term commitment and mission to grow cricket around the world.
The announcement comes amid growing anticipation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will see 55 matches played across nine venues in the United States and West Indies from June 1 to 29. The 16 group stage matches will be played in New York, Texas and Florida, marking the first time the ICC World Cup will be held in the United States.
DP World has already played a key role in this edition of the World Cup, providing a specialist solution to transport ten Florida-grown grass pitches more than 1,200 miles to New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium and nearby training venues. The pitches were developed using the expertise of Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and nurtured by US-based turf specialists, Landtec Group.
A fleet of over 20 vehicles transported the match and practice pitches north on the two-day journey. Each pitch was meticulously prepared for transport and packaged to prevent deterioration on the way to New York. DP World’s advanced logistics capabilities then ensured that the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium pitches were transported in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.
DP World has also used its unique position to operate in 75 countries across six continents to grow cricket at the grassroots level through its Beyond Boundaries initiative, a mission to support communities by delivering kit and equipment in repurposed shipping containers. The initiative was launched on the eve of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, with 10 kits donated for every 100 runs scored by a team in the tournament. More than 2,500 kits have already been donated and 1,750 kits delivered to thousands of aspiring cricketers in India, South Africa and the UAE.
DP World’s work is closely aligned with the ICC’s mission to build a better cricket system and grow cricket globally, and through the expanded partnership, DP World will now work closely with the governing body on the development of criiio programmes that support and celebrate the different ways in which cricket is played around the world.
Daniel van Otterdijk, chief communications officer at DP World, said: “From delivering a World Cup Stadium to New York to our ongoing efforts to grow cricket through our Beyond Boundaries initiative, DP World’s partnership with the International Cricket Council has worked together to ensure that people around the world can enjoy cricket at all levels. This summer’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will see players take to the pitch transported by DP World’s specialised smart logistics expertise. Given what we have achieved to date, it makes perfect sense to be promoted to a Premier Partner as we continue to strive to grow cricket for people of all ages and backgrounds around the world. In our business, there are no limits or boundaries to what is possible with cricket.”
Anurag Dahiya, Chief Commercial Officer, ICC said: “DP World has been a very supportive and proactive partner of the ICC and we are delighted that the company has been promoted to a Premier Partner, underlining the great value our partnership brings to our global brands. Our partnership with the ICC is based on shared values and DP World has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to growing cricket at all levels around the world. The ICC is proud to continue its journey through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and beyond and we are confident that working with industry experts like DP World will make it much easier to spread cricket to new geographies and audiences.”
DP World will be the proud supplier of the match balls for all 55 matches of the World Cup, as well as organise the Trophy Tour which will transport the trophy to the tournament. The partnership will continue for the next four years, including later this year at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October.