The ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour is set to make a long stay in Nepal when it lands at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Friday with a probability to get stationed at Everest Base Camp in Solukhumbu. Nepal is one of the 21 countries chosen for the tour for 2019 ICC World Cup which will be hosted by England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. The trophy is coming to Nepal from Bangladesh after it began its journey from International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters in Dubai and has so far travelled to Oman, the United States of America, the West Indies and Pakistan.

This is one of the lengthiest ICC World Cup trophy tour with Nepali cricket community alone gracing the trophy for four days. The trophy will reach the TIA on 3:40 PM and will be kept at Swoyambhu Temple for evening photography at 6:00 PM. “If the weather permits and skies clear out, the trophy is likely to go to Solukhumbu at the Everest Base Camp on October 29,” informed former Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Chief Executive Officer Bhawana Ghimire.

Ghimire is currently coordinating with the ICC for the trophy tour in Nepal in absence of the country’s cricket governing body. On the second day, the trophy will be kept on display at the Pokhara cricket ground which is hosting the Pokhara Premier League Twenty20 in the morning. It will be then taken to Few Lake for scenic photography and video interviews before heading back to Kathmandu.

The third day will see the trophy leaving for Chandragiri Hills in the morning. In an official visit, ICC representatives will take the trophy to the Prime Minister’s residence which is yet to be confirmed. The same evening, Hublot, the regional retail partner of Swiss luxury watch-maker, will organise a public display programme involving Youth and Sports Minister, National Sports Council Member Secretary and cricket officials.

On October 29, the trophy will be kept at the Basantapur Durbar Square for fan engagement and photography before leaving for India. From India, the trophy will travel to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany before reaching England and Wales on 19 February, 2019.

It will be the second time that Nepal will be gracing a World Cup Trophy of the most popular sporting events. Nepal had previously watched the football World Cup Trophy of the 2014 edition that was held in Brazil. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, England, South Africa, Australia, the West Indies and New Zealand are competing in the 10-team 2019 World Cup. West Indies and Afghanistan had made it to the World Cup after making top two finish in the Qualifiers that was held in Zimbabwe early this year. Nepal had finished eighth in the Qualifiers, a position that earned them the coveted One Day International status.