The largest volunteer force for cricket in England and Wales will be mobilised for the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup this summer.
When the registration deadline passed, the ranks of potential Cricketeers, as the volunteers will be known, had reached over 2400, going beyond the target set by the organisers.
This is a scaled up operation from previous ICC tournaments in England and Wales. In 2009 the ICC World Twenty20 saw a force of 500 volunteers and when the Cricketeer programme started ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, 800 volunteers played a vital role in the success of the tournament. This year there will be 1,500 Cricketeers working across both tournaments in eight different venues.
Every Cricketeer will be vital to the success of the competitions in what will be the biggest summer of cricket ever staged in England and Wales.
Steve Elworthy
Steve Elworthy, Director of the ICC tournaments, said: “The response has been fantastic. We are thrilled with the number of people who want to play such important roles at this summer’s ICC global events.
“Every Cricketeer will be vital to the success of the competitions in what will be the biggest summer of cricket ever staged in England and Wales. There is a great tradition of volunteering to support sporting events in this country and this is no different.
“As we saw during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, when we launched the popular Cricketeer programme, the people have turned out because they care about making these global events a resounding success and they will be among the real stars of the tournaments.”
Spanning a two-month period, the Cricketeers will gain a unique experience working across key areas of two global sporting events, ranging from spectator services to accreditation.
Chris Tetley, Head of Events at the ICC, said: “The Cricketeers will be the face of the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup and with that comes a unique opportunity to be part of two global sporting events.
We hope the partnership with all applicants will continue into the ICC Cricket Word Cup in 2019 where we will be looking for an even bigger number of Cricketeers
Steve Elworthy
“The volunteers will be the true heroes of both tournaments and the ICC have huge gratitude for their commitment to the sport. The numbers this year are hugely impressive and shows a great appetite for cricket in England and Wales.
“We hope the partnership with all applicants will continue into the ICC Cricket Word Cup in 2019 where we will be looking for an even bigger number of Cricketeers.”
Applicants will now be invited to attend an interview session at the host venues throughout February and March. The Cricketeers will begin their training programme in April before the first ball is bowled in the ICC Champions Trophy on 1 June when England take on Bangladesh in the opening game at The Oval.
The ICC Champions Trophy will be played at Cardiff, Edgbaston and The Oval between 1-18 June 2017 and the ICC Women’s World Cup will be staged during June/July at Bristol, Derby, Leicester and Taunton with the final at Lord’s on 23 July.
