Finch, Morkel and Waqar turn out as T20 World Cup Trophy launch kicks off in Melbourne

Australia captain Aaron Finch poses with the T20 World Cup trophy. Getty Images

Aaron Finch of Australia high fives a young fan during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch at Crown Riverwalk on July 08, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

A young cricket fan bats during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Fans show their support during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch at Crown Riverwalk in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Shane Watson, Georgia Wareham, Aaron Finch, Tayla Vlaeminck, Waqar Younis and Morne Morkel pose during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch to mark 100 days until the tournament begins. Getty Images

Sharni Norder bats during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch. Getty Images

Morne Morkel speaks during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch. Getty Images

Georgia Wareham speaks during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch. Getty Images

Pakistan great Waqar Younis speaks. Getty Images

Young cricket fans look on. Getty Images

Australia captain Aaron Finch. Getty Images

Australia batsman Shane Watson. Getty Images

Cricket fans pose in front of the 100 days to go sign. Getty Images

Cricket fans show their support during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch. Getty Images

A young cricket fan poses for a photograph. Getty Images

Cricket fans show their support during the T20 World Cup Trophy Tour Launch at Crown Riverwalk in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Former Pakistan cricket player Waqar Younis speaks next to Morne Morkel of South Africa. AFP

Former Australian player Shane Watson speaks at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 100 days-to-go ceremony in Melbourne. AFP

Australia captain Aaron Finch and South Africa skipper Morne Morkel helped kick off the 100-days-to-go countdown to the T20 World Cup in Melbourne on Friday.

Sixteen-teams will compete for the trophy including the UAE who sealed their spot in the showpiece by winning the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Oman earlier this year.

Speaking at the Trophy Launch alongside greats of the men's and women's game including Georgia Wareham, Shane Watson and Waqar Younis, Australia captain Finch said excitement in Australia at hosting the tournament for the first time was bubbling.

“It’s an exciting time for cricket with so many world-class teams coming out to play all around the country," Finch said.

"Now that there’s just 100 days to go, you can feel the excitement building among the team about the prospect of playing in a home World Cup in front of our fans.

“In a World Cup every game is a tough game, and anyone can beat anyone on their day so the white ball cricket we’ve got coming up over the next couple of months is going to be crucial to make sure we are ready come the first ball of the World Cup in October.”

The Trophy Tour is set to visit 35 locations in 13 countries across four continents. The Men’s T20 World Cup trophy will make stops in Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Namibia, Nepal, Singapore and Vanuatu.

Beginning in Melbourne and circling the globe, the Trophy Tour will make its final stop in Geelong on October 16 for the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2022 between 2014 Champions Sri Lanka and Namibia.

Former Australia allrounder Watson said: "“As a player, there’s few things that can top playing in a home World Cup and I can’t wait to see the world’s best T20 players on the fast bouncy pitches in Australia. It’s going to be an incredible spectacle.

“Leading up to the event, I’m also looking forward to taking the T20 World Cup trophy around our beautiful country to give fans the opportunity to be part of this massive cricket celebration.”