2023 Pacific Island Cricket Challenge

The 2023 Pacific Island Cricket Challenge consisted of a men's Twenty20 International (T20I) and a women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) cricket tournament, that took place in Suva, Fiji, in March 2023.[1][2]

Both events featured men's and women's national teams from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu, as well as team representing the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), with all games played at Albert Park in Suva.[3] Papua New Guinea entered an academy team in the men's tournament due to their senior side playing a Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Nepal.[4] The event was sponsored by the Australian Defence Force and also saw representatives from other Pacific island nations such as the Cook Islands and New Caledonia take part in training sessions to help boost the standard of cricket across the region.[5] The arrival of the Vanuatu teams was delayed by the impact of Cyclones Judy and Kevin on the country.[6]

Papua New Guinea won both the men's and women's tournaments.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Vanuatu men's cricketers reap earnings boost as 2023 contracts announced". Vanuatu Cricket Association. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Samoa's cricketers gearing up for Pacific Islands Cup". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Cricket Fiji will co-host the inaugural Pacific Island Cricket Challenge 2023". Fiji Village. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Cricket Fiji to host Men's/Women's Pacific Island Cricket Challenge in March 2023". Czarsportz. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Plans to revive cricket". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  6. ^ "National Men's & Women's Team to Travel to Fiji for Inaugural Pacific Island Cricket Challenge 2023". Vanuatu Cricket Association. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  7. ^ "PNG rules cricket". Fiji Times. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. ^ "PNG teams win tourney". The National. Retrieved 20 March 2023.