Emirates is the official airline of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, taking place across India from October 5 to November 19. The airline's sponsorship of this year's tournament expands on its existing partnership with the ICC.

Emirates created a short video with Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik to generate excitement among cricket fans worldwide ahead of the tournament. In the video, Karthik sits in Emirates' Premium Economy cabin and watches the matches live on the ice inflight entertainment system. 

About the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup

The 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will have ten teams from nations with a strong cricket tradition to compete for the Cricket World Cup Trophy. Before the tournament, the gold and silver trophies flew from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to India on an Airbus A380, with the registration A6-EOK. Aside from India, the event will have teams from countries across Africa, Europe, South Asia, and the Pacific.

The first 45 matches will occur across ten Indian cities, with the semifinals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The final game will happen at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. With a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators, this stadium is the world's second-largest after the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea.

The Men's Cricket World Cup is held every four years and is the world's most popular cricket tournament. The 2023 edition is the 14th tournament and the first to occur exclusively in India. Most events take place across multiple countries, including three that India hosted with other South Asian countries.

How Passengers Can Access the Cricket World Cup

Emirates will offer Premium Economy on its routes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) in Bangalore starting October 29. The carrier provides nonstop service to seven other Indian destinations, several of which will host matches of the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. The cities that Emirates flies to and will host games are Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Passengers can fly on Emirates to most of the Indian cities serving as venues in the tournament. Cricket fans interested in the other host cities - Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Pune - can access these destinations through a connecting flight.

Cricket fans will have a variety of ways to watch the matches regardless of if they plan to attend the Cricket World Cup in person. Passengers onboard Emirates flights can watch all games live on Sports 24 and Sports 24 Extra, available on ice. For fans attending the 48 matches across India, Emirates will have a strong presence at the stadiums through hospitality and ticketing rights. The carrier will also have in-stadium activations.

Cricket fans can express their love of the sport on social media. Emirates will showcase the highlights after each match through the Emirates Fly Better Moment of the Day. Fans can view these highlights by following #CWC23 or visiting the ICC's Instagram and Facebook pages.

Emirates' Involvement with International Cricket

Emirates has sponsored various ICC events for more than two decades. Aside from the Men's Cricket World Cup, Emirates is the official airline of the following cricket tournaments:

• ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
• ICC Men's T20 World Cup
• ICC Women's T20 World Cup
• ICC World Test Championship

Emirates' partnership with the ICC goes beyond simply sponsoring tournaments. The airline appears on the official kit of the ICC Elite and International Panels of Umpires and Match Referees. These panels officiate Test Matches and One Day International Events worldwide. Furthermore, Emirates transports umpires and referees to international events.

Aside from sponsoring international cricket events, Emirates is also involved with cricket teams and events in individual countries. In the UK, the airline works with Durham County Cricket Club and is the title sponsor of the Durham Lancashire Emirates Trophy. Furthermore, Emirates has sponsored the Emirates Old Trafford team since 2013.