University of Canberra Brings Back UC Cricket Challenge for Third Year in India

New Delhi: The University of Canberra (UC) has announced the return of its flagship youth initiative, the UC Cricket Challenge, for a noting a hat-trick year in India. The tournament’s third consecutive edition will be held in Bengaluru, reinforcing the university’s long-term commitment to strengthening India–Australia ties through sport, education and youth development.

Organised in partnership with Cricket ACT — the governing body for cricket in the Australian Capital Territory — the UC Cricket Challenge has evolved into a distinctive international platform combining competitive school-level cricket with academic exposure, cultural exchange and future-focused education pathways.

Since its inception, the tournament has provided promising young cricketers from schools across India with opportunities to experience Australia’s sport-led education ecosystem while competing at a high-performance level.

Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the initiative reflects Canberra’s focus on innovation and global partnerships.

“The University of Canberra Cricket Challenge represents exactly what Canberra stands for — innovation, opportunity and partnership. This program strengthens our international education relationships, opens new pathways for young athletes, and showcases Canberra as a global destination where talent is nurtured both on the field and in the classroom,” he said.

The UC Cricket Challenge stems from a shared vision between UC and Cricket ACT to nurture emerging talent and create meaningful “study and play” pathways, enabling students to pursue sporting excellence alongside academic goals. The initiative aligns with UC’s broader emphasis on employability, industry integration and real-world learning.

Building on the success of the previous editions, the 2026 tournament will feature inter-school T10 matches in Bengaluru. The event will also include engagement activities aimed at exposing students to international education opportunities, high-performance sporting environments and cross-cultural learning experiences. Detailed information on dates, venues and participating schools will be announced later.

University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Bill Shorten said the Challenge embodies the institution’s core values.

“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together. Through this initiative, we are creating pathways for young talent to thrive both on the field and in the classroom,” he said.

“As we mark the third consecutive year of the Challenge in India, we will focus on building enduring partnerships, strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Australia, and positioning Canberra as a destination for students seeking to combine education with sporting excellence.”

Cricket ACT Chief Executive Officer Olivia Thorton said the tournament demonstrates cricket’s power to connect communities across borders.

“The UC Cricket Challenge shows how cricket can bring India and Australia closer while creating meaningful education and sport pathways for young people. Cricket ACT is proud to support an initiative that opens global opportunities for emerging talent,” she said.

The tournament also highlights the growing role of sport as a bridge between education systems and international collaboration. Through its partnership with Cricket ACT, UC continues to strengthen links among schools, sporting bodies and higher education institutions, supporting talent development, coaching excellence and future leadership in sport.

As part of its broader engagement with India, the UC Cricket Challenge complements the university’s initiatives in student recruitment, school outreach, training programmes and institutional partnerships — underscoring India’s importance as a key strategic market in UC’s global vision.

The hat-trick edition further reinforces UC’s belief that sport-led education can play a powerful role in shaping globally minded, career-ready graduates while deepening cultural and institutional ties between nations.