Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket
The much-anticipated second season of Queensland Cricket’s Multination Challengers Trophy commenced on Saturday, 7th September, at the Ivor Marsden Sports Complex. Building on the success of last year, this multicultural tournament has quickly become a fixture in Queensland Cricket’s calendar, celebrating Queensland rich multicultural community through the sport. This season’s tournament is being backed by the Queensland Cricket Foundation, also showcasing the expansion of the fund’s contribution to the wider community across Queensland.
This year, the tournament has expanded its reach, welcoming six teams, including returning powerhouses India, Pakistan, and Nepal, alongside new contenders WPC Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and a World XI. The competition promises an exciting seven weeks of cricket, showcasing talent from various cultural communities across the southeast QLD region.
Cricket Ipswich, a staunch supporter of multicultural cricket, continues to play a pivotal role in this initiative. Following their successful hosting of the national squad Bangladesh tournament in July, they are once again at the forefront, fostering community engagement and providing a platform for emerging cricketers to shine.
Last year’s champions, Team Pakistan, organised by the Pakistan Cultural Association, set a high standard, and they are back to defend their title. However, with new teams in the mix, the competition is expected to be fiercer than ever.
Queensland Cricket’s Project Officer – Multicultural, Dr Ashutosh Misra spoke in excitement about the expanding competition.
He said, “The additional teams this year truly demonstrates that Queensland Cricket’s community outreach is expanding, and that more communities are wanting to engage with our programs”.
The Multination Challengers Trophy is more than just a tournament; it’s a critical component of Queensland Cricket’s Multicultural Action Plan and talent pathway. Over the course of the competition, standout players will have the opportunity to be selected for the Queensland Cricket Multicultural XI. This team will face off against the Queensland Indigenous XI early in the new year for the prestigious Mosaic Cup, formerly known as the Harmony Cup.
John Butterworth, Queensland Cricket’s Head of Operations, Growth & Engagement, described the tournaments overall importance to the organisation’s Multicultural Action plan.
He said, “Many of the teams either participate in existing competitions, or coordinate unaffiliated cricket tournaments,”
“Working with these communities allows us to correctly register and support their tournaments and programs and support their volunteers by providing relevant training and education opportunities to increase their quality” he continued.
As the tournament progresses, cricket fans can look forward to a display of passion, skill, and the unifying power of sport, as these teams compete not just for victory, but for the honour of representing their communities on a larger stage.
For more information on the Queensland Cricket Foundation, or to donate, click here.
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Queensland Cricket, previously the Queensland Cricket Association, is the governing body for cricket in Queensland, Australia. Established in 1876, it oversees the Queensland Bulls, Queensland Fire, Allan Border Field, and Queensland Premier Cricket. Terry Svenson is the current CEO, and Kirsten Pike is the Chair of the Board of Directors.
