Domestic cricket leagues uniting migrant communities

Domestic cricket leagues are uniting migrant communities in New Zealand, transforming sporting landscapes and empowering aspiring athletes.

Across multiple cities nationwide, migrant communities are hosting cricket leagues inspired by the popularity of the Indian Premier League.

The Auckland Premier League is one such league, concluding its 10th season this year and marking a significant milestone for community cricket.

"It has turned out to be pretty successful," says Anto Augustine, co-founder of the T20 tournament.

A passionate cricket enthusiast, Augustine moved to New Zealand 17 years ago from the southern Indian state of Kerala.

"I started playing cricket from a very young age," he recalls.

"When I arrived in 2007, cricket became more accessible, and I began playing for different clubs," he says.

Augustine relocated to Auckland from Christchurch in 2012 and connected with fellow cricket lovers.

He teamed up with Tinu Kochery to establish the Auckland Premier League, targeting aspiring cricketers within their community.

"We approached the Malayalee community, unsure if our initiative would succeed," Augustine says.

Starting the league certainly had its challenges.

"We decided to begin with four teams, which meant finding four owners," Augustine says. "The registration fee was $1000 and, fortunately, we managed to secure the necessary support."

Today, the league has expanded to eight teams, drawing players from Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton and other regions, including Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.

"Both Tinu and I work full time, and this isn't a business venture," Augustine says.

"The registration fees and community sponsorship cover our expenses," he says.

The league hosts annual player auctions where team owners bid for players using virtual money.

"Interested players register through our website," Augustine says.

"We facilitate an open net day on which owners can scout and then bid for the players they need at the auction," he says.

He says the league provides a platform for passionate community cricketers to continue their sporting journey in New Zealand.

On December 8, the Auckland Avengers triumphed over the Auckland Mustangs at Parrs Park, clinching the 2024 league championship with a 14-run victory.

In the South Island, another cricket tournament is uniting South Asian communities.

The eighth season of the All Nations Festival began on 24 November at Polo Grounds and Spreydon Domain in Christchurch, organized by the Christchurch Metro Cricket Association and Christchurch Multicultural Council.

"The tournament has grown from its initial format to now include 16 teams," says Surinder Tandon, president of the Multicultural Council.

The event replaces the Global Seven multi-ethnic tournament, which started in 2000 and transitioned to a T20 format eight years ago.

"Our goal is to foster unity in diversity, promote professionalism in cricket, and provide opportunities for migrant cricketers to play in New Zealand and local metro clubs," Tandon says.

He says many migrant cricketers are now playing in some of the best clubs in Christchurch because of the tournament.

Having been in New Zealand for 35 years, Tandon remembers limited cricket opportunities in the past.

"I established a cricket team for the Indian community in 1998 when we formed the Indian Social and Cultural Club, playing against Fijian Indian community teams," he recalls.

Other notable ethnic cricket tournaments in the country include those organized by the New Zealand Indian Sports Association, New Zealand Gujarati Sports and Cultural Association and NZ Sikh Games.

Other migrant-led cricket leagues in New Zealand include the Tamil Super League, Wellington Malayalee Premier League, Auckland Maharashtra League, Telugu Premier League-NZ and Kerala Premier League.

"The beauty of cricket transcends boundaries," Tandon says.

"It doesn't matter whether you're Indian, Pakistani or Nepali - we all share a deep love for the game and a desire to play."