Emirates unveils Australia’s World Cup kit

Ricky Ponting, captain of the Emirates-sponsored Australian cricket squad, along with team-mates Nathan Bracken and late call up Stuart Clark, were at Sydney International Airport on Sunday to unveil the 2007 World Cup uniform.

The distinct green and gold uniform will be worn for all games in the West Indies as Ponting and his team bid for a third successive ICC Cricket World Cup victory.

Earlier this month, Emirates, the Dubai-based multi-award winning airline, announced a major sponsorship of the defending champions; underlining Emirates’ commitment to Australia. The Emirates sponsorship of Australia’s World Cup team sees Emirates branding appear on the team uniform and training apparel while in the West Indies.

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: “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.”

Ponting said: "We are all looking forward to a challenging and successful two months of Cricket.

“We are proud to be associated with Emirates during our World Cup campaign and hope we can repeat the victory of 1999 when Emirates was our team sponsor.”

Emirates is also 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 announce 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.