Westpac Bank PNG Limited has congratulated the PNG Indigenous team following an impressive campaign at the 2026 National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC) in Mackay, Australia, where Papua New Guinea received the NICC Men’s Spirit of Cricket Award and players secured multiple Westpac match honours throughout the tournament.
Held on Yuwibara Country from 14–19 April 2026, the men’s and women’s T20 championships were played at Great Barrier Reef Arena and Harrup Park. Papua New Guinea participated in the men’s competition as an invitational team for the first time, while four PNG Lewas players joined South Australia’s women’s squad for the tournament.
The championship also featured a dedicated cultural activity day on 17 April, alongside national broadcast and streaming coverage.
Westpac PNG said the results highlighted the depth of cricket talent in Papua New Guinea, as well as the strong culture of respect and sportsmanship within the national programme ahead of upcoming international fixtures.
Among the key recognitions received during the tournament were:
• NICC Men’s Spirit of Cricket Award – Papua New Guinea
• Westpac Player of the Round (Round 2) – Michael Charlie
• NICC Men’s Player of the Championship – Tony Ura
• NICC Men’s Team of the Championship – Tony Ura
• NICC Women’s Team of the Championship – Henao Thomas
Westpac ‘Player of the Match’ awards were also presented throughout the tournament:
• Round 1 vs Queensland – Tony Ura
• Round 2 vs Tasmania – Michael Charlie
• Round 4 vs South Australia – Sese Bau
• Round 5 vs Northern Territory – Hila Vare
• Round 7 vs Tasmania – Tony Ura
PNG delivered a series of strong performances during the week, including back-to-back wins in rounds four and five to maintain an unbeaten run midway through the tournament.
The competition also served as a high-performance preparation platform for upcoming international fixtures, including Papua New Guinea’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign in Japan.
Westpac Bank PNG Limited Chief Executive Andrew Cairns praised the team’s achievements and conduct throughout the tournament.
“We’re proud to see the PNG Indigenous team recognised for both performance and sportsmanship at the NICC. Congratulations to the players and staff, especially those who received Westpac match awards throughout the tournament,” Mr Cairns said.
Cricket PNG High Performance Manager and Head Coach Tim McCaskill said the tournament provided valuable preparation for the team’s upcoming international commitments.
“This tournament provided valuable high-performance preparation. The Spirit of Cricket award reflects the standards we set for ourselves as a group, and the individual honours are a credit to the players’ hard work,” Mr McCaskill said.
The squad has since returned to Port Moresby and will continue preparations for future fixtures and tournament commitments.
Westpac said the participation of the PNG Indigenous team and PNG Lewas players was supported through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme, which provides Pacific athletes, coaches, officials and administrators with opportunities to access high-performance training and elite competition.
