Emirates strengthens Australian commitment

Ashes-winning captain Ricky Ponting is all set to lead his Emirates-sponsored Australian Cricket squad in defence of the ICC Cricket World Cup in four weeks' time. The players that will join Ponting in their bid for a third successive World Cup victory were announced by Cricket Australia in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Emirates, the Dubai-based multi-award winning airline, recently announced a AUD500,000 sponsorship of the defending champions; underlying Emirates’ commitment to Australia.

Ponting, who is currently the world’s top-rated batsman, has led Australia to 27 wins from 35 matches during his captaincy career so far.

The West Indies plays host to the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup with play in the first match getting underway on 13th March. Australia’s defence will begin on 14th March when they face Scotland in St Kitts.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “The sponsorship of the Australian cricket team further enhances our association with Australia; and also with major international sporting events.

“Emirates has a long and successful partnership with the Australian team and we were with them when they won the Cricket World Cup in 1999. We wish them the best of luck in retaining the World Cup and the title of the best cricket team in the world.”

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are very pleased that Emirates will be the team’s sponsor for the ICC Cricket World Cup.

“In a sport that values omens more than most; it’s worth pointing out that Emirates was also the sponsor of Australia’s victorious 1999 World Cup team, so hopefully its involvement in 2007 will see the same result.”

The Emirates sponsorship of Australia’s World Cup team will see Emirates branding appear on the team uniform and training apparel while in the West Indies.

Emirates will also be the naming rights sponsor of the Celebration of Australian One-Day International Cricket event and ICC World Cup departure celebration on 27th February at Luna Park in Sydney.

The gala event will reunite all players who have represented Australia in limited-overs cricket as well as announcing the greatest Australian One-Day International team of all-time.

Australia’s 1987 World Cup winning squad will also be honoured with a retrospective presentation of World Cup Champions rings of the type presented to the 1999 and 2003 World Cup winners.

Emirates has always had a strong affiliation with cricket and in addition to their sponsorship of the Australian Cricket World Cup team, it also sponsors the ICC Umpires and is the Official Airline to Cricket Australia.