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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) yesterday paraded the International Cricket Council (ICC) Nissan World Twenty20 trophy in Victoria Falls much to the excitement of fans and tourists.

The Nissan ICC World Twenty20 2016 starts on March 8 ending on April 3 in India.

The trophy came to Zimbabwe as part of its tour of the 12 countries that will participate in the tournament.

The trophy landed in Harare on Saturday and today it leaves for Cape Town in South Africa.

ICC promotions officer Raymond Palmer touched down at the Victoria Falls International Airport from Harare at 10.30AM yesterday. He was accompanied by ZC head of corporate affairs Nesta Vaki, ZC spokesperson Lovemore Banda, national cricket team opening batsman Vusi Sibanda and representatives from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation.

They were welcomed by Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu and ZC board member Elisha Kandi among other officials before being whisked to the Rainforest where the trophy was paraded for a photo shoot.

Welcoming the trophy, Mayor Mpofu said the gesture raised the profile of the resort town as a sporting town.

“I’m glad to receive this trophy here ahead of the tournament in three months’ time. On behalf of residents of Victoria Falls we’re grateful for this gesture as it raises the profile of the town as a centre for sport. I wish our team success as they partake in the tournament,” said Mpofu.

Palmer said he was elated by the resounding welcome by local fans.

At the Rainforest, tourists would constantly stop the entourage requesting to pose for pictures with the trophy and Sibanda with some predicting a win for the Zimbabwe team.

Vaki said ZC was leaving no stone unturned in its preparation for the tourney.

“This shows we’re recognised as a country. It’s an honour on its own and confirms us as a critical participating nation,” she said.

Vaki said the national cricket team was gearing up for the tournament and its preparations had been through participating in a number of tourneys such as the one underway in Afghanistan.

“We’re doing the best we can in terms of preparation. The coach and board are working hard so that the nation is represented. We’ve had a lot of games as part of our preparations,”

ZC spokesperson Banda said from Zimbabwe the trophy is going to Cape Town, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries before it is taken to India next month where it will be paraded in different cities before the tourney starts.

The tour started in Scotland on December 13 and will end on February 1 in New Delhi, India.