Mural brings up 50 in T20 World Cup countdown

THERE are just over 50 days until the men’s T20 World Cup comes to Geelong, and a new mural has been unveiled at GMHBA Stadium as a lasting legacy of the international sporting event.

Today (Friday, August 26), Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin, ICC T20 World Cup Local Organisating Committee chief executive officer Michelle Enright and artist Vernon Tissera officially revealed the artwork, which is located in the concourse on the south side of the Players Stand.

The artwork features the World Cup trophy, the flags of all 16 nations competing and the names of the four teams who will be playing their group games at GMHBA Stadium – Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Namibia and the Netherlands – from October 16.

Tissera, a Sri Lankan refugee who now lives in the Melbourne suburb of Berwick, said the mural took him nearly seven days to paint.

“What I was expressing was that the trophy is a tree, all the flags are branches, and also I’m very proud to say all the nations are living in Australia, too.”

Ms Enright said she was very impressed by the mural.

“We’re just so privileged to have someone like Vernon paint this for us and it depicts, I think, what World Cups are all about, which is bringing generations and cultures together. It’s just really special.”

GMHBA Stadium will also host the tournament opener,  on October 16 between Sri Lanka and Namibia.

“We’ve got four amazing teams here… and they’re all going to want to secure their spot in the Super 12 stage, that’s for sure,” Ms Enright said.

She said a big crowd of Sri Lankan supporters were expected to cheer on their side during their matches.

“They are so excited, they can’t wait for their team to come here. Their energy, passion and colour is going to take over these grandstands.”

Mr Griffin said he was thrilled with how GMHBA Stadium was coming together for the tournament.

“It’ll be dressed with all the colours of the teams and of the tournament itself, and the team’s working really hard to make that happen.

“We’ve got to convert this place into a cricket stadium minutes after the AFL Grand Final has been run and won – hopefully by the Cats!”

For tickets and more information, head to t20worldcup.com