Emirates Airline has launched a celebration of cricket with fans the world over, as the national teams from 14 countries commence their journey to compete for the glory and the title of world champions at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

As the official worldwide partner of the ICC, Emirates is a sponsor of both the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, and the event’s match officials selected from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, the Emirates International Panel of Umpires, and the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. The tournament will run until March 29.

“We’re proud to be the official airline for cricket through our long standing partnership with the ICC and the many other partnerships we have with cricket globally, from major competitions to local grass roots clubs,” said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ divisional SVP, corporate communications, marketing and brand.

As the tournament opens, many cricket fans have already had the opportunity to spot, and also experience flying one of the 10 Emirates A380 aircraft specially "dressed up" with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 logo.

At the opening weekend, hundreds of fans were also invited to step into the shoes of Emirates elite panels of umpires and referees, and experience making the tough calls first hand at Emirates’ Who Wants to be an Umpire? Testing Centre. In total, there are 110 tough umpire calls that fans will be tested on at eight selected locations across Australia and New Zealand during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Fans who are keen to try umpiring can visit the Emirates Testing Centre at the following dates and locations: Brisbane, The Gabba (Feb. 21); Auckland, Takutai Square (Feb. 28); Perth, Northbridge Piazza (March 4); Sydney, Sydney Cricket Ground (March 8); Adelaide, The Oval (March 20); and Melbourne, Birrarung Marr (March 29).