Queensland Cricket Kicks Off Multination Challengers Trophy

This community connecting tournament began over the weekend at 7th Brigade Park in North Brisbane, adding a thrilling dimension to the Queensland Cricket calendar.

The seven -week cricket tournament features four competitive teams hailing from diverse and highly enthusiastic cricketing communities – India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The action-packed matches unfold every Saturday afternoon, displaying the remarkable talents and spirit of these cricket-loving nations.

Week one of the competition witnessed an exhilarating start, with Nepal emerging victorious against Pakistan and Bangladesh proving too strong for India. The excitement and competition level were evident, however the community connection and networking proved why cricket is such an amazing tool for bringing people together.

Queensland Cricket Multicultural Lead, Ashutosh Misra, spoke passionately about where the future of the tournament could lead.

“Whilst the start of this competition marks a big milestone in our wider multicultural strategy, we are still looking at opportunities to amplify what the competition can become, such as the grand final linking in with a marquee Queensland Cricket event.

He continued “These communities won’t have otherwise got the opportunity to play with each other, which explains why they are so deeply excited for playing in this unique League. Cricket builds bonds and Project Multicultural at QC is an apt example of it.”

Queensland Cricket was honoured to welcome the esteemed Multicultural Australia CEO, Christine Castley. Ms. Castley graced the occasion, meeting each team and also had the distinct privilege of overseeing the coin toss for both games. Her presence underscored the significance of this event as it brings together cricket enthusiasts from various backgrounds. Ms Castley spoke positively on the initiatives that Queensland Cricket have been rolling out to engage with the multicultural community.

“The Multination Challenger’s Trophy stands as a shining example of how sport can bridge cultures and bring nations together on the field of play. This tournament showcases the power of cricket to transcend borders and create a global community bound by a love for the game - it is so exciting to see this happen right here in Queensland and in Australia."

The Multinational Challengers Trophy marks an expansion of the Nations Cup program, which initially began with a taped ball format last season. This evolution is part of a broader initiative propelled by Cricket Australia’s South Asian Action Plan. This visionary project enjoys the enthusiastic support of the Australian government, as it is designated a legacy project for the T20 World Cup.

The Multinational Challengers Trophy promises to be a thrilling spectacle, bridging cultures and uniting cricket lovers in the spirit of friendly competition. Queensland Cricket's commitment to fostering diversity and sporting excellence is beautifully encapsulated in this landmark event, which is poised to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing landscape.