Emirates Airline has launched a celebration of cricket with fans the world over, as the national teams from 14 countries commence their journey to compete for the glory and the title of world champions at the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

As the Official Worldwide Partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Emirates is a sponsor of both the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, and the event’s match officials selected from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, the Emirates International Panel of Umpires and the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

The Tournament will run until 29th March 2015, with teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, West Indies and Zimbabwe competing to be crowned world champions.

Emirates’ celebrations will focus on sharing in the action with fans following these teams throughout the event, and also supporting the Emirates Elite Umpires and Referees who have one of the toughest jobs of the tournament.

“We’re proud to be the official airline for cricket through our long standing partnership with the ICC and the many other partnerships we have with cricket globally  from major competitions to locaal grass roots clubs,” said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand.

“Cricket inspires passion from people from all walks of life, and with the continual innovation and fresh thinking being applied to the game, it is clear the sport has never been stronger.

“Emirates serves customers in 13 of the 14 nations participating in this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup. We look forward to celebrating the best moments of this passion-inspiring sport with cricket fans across the globe, particularly those who will be following their national teams  hopefully to the final,” Boutros Boutros added.

As the Tournament opens, many cricket fans have already had the opportunity to spot, and also experience flying one of the 10 Emirates A380 aircraft specially “dressed up” with the  ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 logo.

At the opening weekend, hundreds of fans were also invited to step into the shoes of Emirates Elite Panels of Umpires and Referees, and experience making the tough calls first hand at Emirates’ Who Wants to be an Umpire? Testing Centre.  In total, there are 110 tough umpire calls that fans will be tested on at eight selected locations across Australia and New Zealand during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Fans who are keen to try umpiring can visit the Emirates Testing Centre at the following dates and locations:  Brisbane, The Gabba (21st February); Auckland, Takutai Square (28th February); Perth, Northbridge Piazza (4th March); Sydney, Sydney Cricket Ground (8th March); Adelaide, The Oval (20th March); and Melbourne, Birrarung Marr (29th March).

Emirates has been the Official Worldwide Partner of the International Cricket Council and its teams of match officials since 2002, and a sponsor of its major tournaments including the ICC Cricket World Cup since 1999.

Emirates’ other cricket sponsorships include:

• Title Sponsor of the Emirates Airline Twenty20, which brings successful County Cricket Clubs to Dubai to compete for the coveted Emirates T20 Championship.

• In the UK, Emirates has partnerships with Durham County Cricket Club and Lancashire County Cricket Club, including naming rights to both clubs’ playing grounds and their respective T20 representative teams.

For more information on Emirates please visit www.emirates.com.