PNG captain Assa Vala celebrates a wicket at the 2024 T20 World Cup (Photo: ICC via Getty Images)
The Australian Government and Cricket Australia (CA) have joined together to support high-performance cricket across the Pacific region in a bid to strengthen regional connections.
Minister of International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy outlined the delivery of the renewed three-year, $1.55 million partnership, delivered through the PacificAus Sports program, a sports diplomacy initiative for various sporting disciplines played across the region.
The partnership will assist in identifying and developing talented local cricketers and look to create more high-level playing opportunities for Pacific teams domestically and in Australia.
The partnership also includes the establishment of a Cricket Invitational, an annual tournament designed to facilitate fixtures for Pacific teams against the Australian women and men’s First Nations teams. The first tournament is scheduled to be held in Papua New Guinea in June 2025, coinciding with the country’s 50 years of independence celebrations.
“The Australian Government is proud to partner with Cricket Australia to provide Pacific cricketers with access to high-performance coaching and competition,” Minister Conroy stated.
“We look forward to more Pacific teams competing on the world stage.”
Meanwhile, CA Chief Executive Nick Hockley commented on the initiatives’ benefits to Associate members.
“Exposure to more elite-level cricket is vital for ICC Associate Members and this next phase of the partnership will help provide access to Australian cricket competitions and facilities to aid the high-performance programs of national teams in the Pacific region.”
It’s not the first time that the Australian government has committed funds towards cricket development in the Pacific region. Previously, it had partnered with ICC, CA and New Zealand Cricket to create the 2015 Cricket World Cup Community Facility Fund; from which USD $400,000 was paid out to install forty-eight cricket pitches across PNG.
Additionally, previous iterations of the partnership saw Women’s Big Bash League cricketers like Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston and Rhiann O’Donnell travel to PNG to take part in the 2024 T20 Smash. In 2023, the Australian First Nations men’s and women’s teams toured Vanuatu for a four match T20 series, while former international stars Cathryn Fitzpatrick and Julia Price delivered coaching clinics across the region.
You’re reading Emerging Cricket — brought to you by a passionate group of volunteers with a vision for cricket to be a truly global sport, and a mission to inspire passion to grow the game.
Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, please subscribe for regular updates, and follow EC on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Don’t know where to start? Check out our features list, country profiles, and subscribe to our podcast. Support us from US$2 a month — and get exclusive benefits, by becoming an EC Patron.
Japan are set to host reigning ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions India for the…
Brazilian cricket has enjoyed a successful few weeks that could shape the country's growth in…
In May 2025, Arjun Menon’s life was cut short when he was attacked in his…
The newest international cricket stadium in China was launched today at the opening of the…
Cricket has become an officially recognised sport in Spain for the first time after being…
Following on from the success of the women's team at the end of July in…