The Pacific Island Men Cricket Challenge is a developmental regional tournament in the East Asia-Pacific. Organised by the Australian Defence Force Cricket alongside Cricket Fiji, it carries backing from the International Cricket Council and Cricket Australia. Its purpose is to raise standards and community links, particularly as a supplement to the Pacific Games.
The competition follows a round-robin group stage, knockout semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and a final. In its first edition, five sides competed. The ANZAC Barbarians are a representative squad of cricketers from the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, not a national team. Papua New Guinea sent an Academy XI rather than their senior national side. Matches involving Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu carried Twenty20 International status and ICC ranking points.
Papua New Guinea XI won the inaugural title, defeating Vanuatu by seven runs in the final. They are the current holders. The event does not have a formal promotion or relegation system linked to other tournaments like the ICC Men's T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifiers. It is distinct from the Pacific Games Cricket Tournament, which is a multi-sport event held quadrennially by the Pacific Games Council.
The inaugural edition took place in March in Suva, Fiji, at Albert Park. While plans for a second edition in New Zealand were mentioned, there is no confirmed record of the tournament being held in subsequent years. This suggests it may be an irregular or one-off developmental event rather than an annual league. The competition provides a platform for players to gain experience without the pressure of major qualification pathways.
Pacific Island Men Cricket Challenge
A developmental regional cricket tournament in the East Asia-Pacific region, organised by the Australian Defence Force Cricket and Cricket Fiji with support from the International Cricket Council. The inaugural edition was held in March 2023 in Suva, Fiji, at Albert Park. Five teams participated: Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea XI, and the ANZAC Barbarians, a representative squad from the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces. The tournament features a round-robin group stage, knockout semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and a final. Matches involving national teams carried Twenty20 International status and ICC ranking points. Papua New Guinea XI won the inaugural title, defeating Vanuatu by seven runs. The current holder is Papua New Guinea XI. The competition is distinct from the Pacific Games Cricket Tournament and does not link to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup EAP Sub-Regional Qualifiers. Plans for a second edition in New Zealand were mentioned, but no confirmed record exists of the tournament being held in 2024 or 2025, suggesting it may be an irregular developmental event.
