The annual Fiji-India PGT T20 competition was officially launched yesterday at Albert Park Grounds in Suva, returning for a fourth edition that organisers say will blend competitive cricket with a community message. The three-week tournament, staged by the Suva Cricket Association in partnership with the Indian High Commission, will culminate in grand finals scheduled for 13 June.
This year’s competition features eight teams split into two pools. Pool A comprises BSP, Cicia, CAF Warriors and Police, while Pool B includes Army, Moce, Ono and Nasaqalau. Teams will contest a round of pool matches before progressing to the finals stage, with the association expecting an intensive schedule of local talent on display across Albert Park’s turfs.
The tournament carries the theme “Batting for Health and Bowling away Drugs,” a campaign organisers say is intended to use sport as a preventive and unifying platform. Indian High Commissioner Sunnet Mehta, who spoke at the launch, underlined the importance of the message amid what he described as an ongoing drug problem affecting communities. “This sends a clear message that sport can be an effective tool to build our young communities, and together we can fight this menace as one community, as one vanua,” Mehta said.
Suva Cricket Association president Sumanta Rout said the PGT T20 remains focused on developing cricket pathways and exposing new players to higher-level competition. Rout announced that a business house competition will also be staged in June, aiming to broaden participation and give Cricket Fiji an additional platform to uncover emerging talent. He described the business house event as complementary to the main tournament and a chance for corporate teams to engage more directly with the sport.
Organisers confirmed a suite of corporate partners backing this year’s series, naming LICI, New India Assurance and NZOTC among sponsors. Their support, officials said, helps cover logistics and prize commitments while enabling community outreach tied to the tournament’s public-health theme.
The launch reinforces a growing relationship between Suva’s cricketing community and the Indian High Commission, which has supported the event as a cultural and sporting bridge. For local players and supporters, the series provides an annual focal point on the domestic calendar and a chance for clubs such as CAF Warriors and Cicia to showcase depth ahead of other regional fixtures.
Matches will be played across the coming three weeks at Albert Park, with the tournament’s knockout stage and grand final set for 13 June. The Suva Cricket Association said fixtures and daily schedules will be released to the public as they are finalised.