The ICC have announced a stellar list of Ambassadors for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 – including a number of former winners of the tournament.
Throughout the tournament, the CWC Ambassadors will be making match-day appearances at both games in-stadia fan zones and City fan parks as well as connecting with fans via the ICC’s social media channels.
The CWC Ambassadors will also write exclusive columns through the tournament – providing insight from some of the biggest names in the game.
Clive Lloyd captained the West Indies to victory in the first ever Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1975 in England and then returned four years later to help his country defend their title at Lord’s. The West Indies were unable to make it a hat-trick, however, as they were beaten in 1983 final by India.
Three decades on and Lloyd will have a close eye on Jason Holder’s side as the Cricket World Cup returns to England for the first time in 20 years.
Playing alongside Lloyd in 1975 and 1979 was Sir Viv Richards – widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time – who will also be working as an Ambassador for The ICC during the tournament.
India’s victory over West Indies also marked the first of their two titles to date, with Krishnamachari Srikkanth playing a key role after top-scoring with 38 runs in a low-scoring contest at Lord’s.
Srikkanth was to have plenty more involvement in future World Cups too, taking a role as chairman of selectors for the Indian team as they reclaimed the world title in 2011. Now 59, he is also part of the ICC’s Ambassadors team.
Australia won their first of five World Cups in 1987 – a team captained by Allan Border, who guided the Aussies to a seven-run victory over England in India, the first tournament to be played outside England. The fourth edition of the tournament also saw young all-rounder Steve Waugh come of age on the global stage.
Waugh would later go on to captain Australia to victory in 1999 – the last time the tournament was held in England and Wales.
Both Border and Waugh will be appearing at the World Cup in their roles as ICC Ambassadors during the tournament as Australia bid to defend the trophy they won four years ago when hosting alongside New Zealand.
The final, and most recent, World Cup winner is England captain Heather Knight. Knight guided her country to victory at the Women’s World Cup in 2017 and is perfectly placed to give her view on Eoin Morgan’s side as the men’s team look to follow in the same footsteps.
Speaking about being part of The ICC’s columnists’ team, Knight said: “It’s brilliant to be part of the team, particularly from the perspective of the women’s game. It shows how far the women’s game has come and the impact of our World Cup win in 2017. It’s brilliant that the ICC wanted to have me involved in the team.”
Other Ambassadors include South African Jacques Kallis, considered by many as one of the greatest all-rounders to play the game. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene will cast his eye over the Lions as they bid to replicate their victory in 1996.
A veteran of five World Cups and former New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, also joins the line-up of illustrious stars who will be ambassadors for The ICC alongside Mirwais Ashraf of Afghanistan and Bangladesh’s Abdur Razzak.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann will also be giving his opinion on the home nation as they bid to win the Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time having finished as runners-up on three occasions.
