In a significant stride towards nurturing budding cricket talent in India, the University of Canberra (UC), in partnership with Cricket ACT, recently hosted the UC Cricket Cup in Canberra – a thrilling club-based Australian cricket tournament for aspiring young school-age cricketers.

The UC Cup celebrated the spirit of cricket, uniting local Canberra teams with their interstate and international counterparts from India in a fast-paced, competitive three-day tournament. Held from the 1st to 4th October 2024, the event marked a key milestone in strengthening the sporting, cultural, and educational ties between Australia and India.

The UC Cup is the largest annual junior pre-season T20 tournament in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), showcasing young talent from multiple venues across Canberra.

The involvement of Indian teams in this year’s Cup is aligned with the University of Canberra and Cricket ACT partnership announced in March 2024, which includes the introduction of in-school programs in India to enhance the skills of young cricket players. The partnership aims to bring an international perspective to cricket education in India, levelling the playing field especially for girls and women in cricket, and creating opportunities for cultural exchange.

The 2024 UC Cup saw 320 young men and women competing across Canberra, a total of 32 teams. These included 22 local ACT teams, seven from interstate New South Wales, and three teams from Delhi and Punjab, India. The international team’s visit to the ACT was organised by the Canberra-based Adams Cricket Academy and Madan Lal’s Cricket Academy from Delhi. The tournament gave young players from Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Chandigarh the opportunity to experience Australian playing conditions and compete with their Australian peers.

Australia and India have a rich history of collaboration and competition in cricket, and this event built on that tradition. The UC Cricket Cup presented a unique opportunity for young Indian players to experience international cricket, explore Australia’s capital city, and learn about the academic opportunities open to them.

Canberra has a strong history of cricketing excellence, and Australia’s highest participation rate in the sport. Several Australian representative players have emerged from Canberra’s cricket community over the years, including Jason Behrendorff, Bronwyn Calver, Michael Bevan, and Brad Haddin.