Sri Lankans lift the Inter-Ethnic Tap Ball Cricket Tournament 2019

The finalists - Sri Lankan team Epsom Lightening and Pakistani team Nengyalees

Organised by the Pakistani Association of New Zealand (PANZ), the Inter-Ethnic Tap Ball Cricket Tournament 2019, which saw 16 teams from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh participate, had an eventual winner.

With the finalists, a Sri Lankan team Epsom Lightening and a Pakistani team Nengyalees unable to play due to bad weather, toss decided in favour of the former. Though the prize money was shared equally between the two teams.

Other participating teams were Bengal United, Pashtoon United, Slogger, S/P Eleven, Kebab Masters, Shield, South Stars, Hard Hitters, Auckland Tigers, Lynfield Fighters, Afghan Zalmi, PANZ Shaheens, Halal Gang and Black Hawks.

Of these, the Bangladeshi team Bengal United and the Indian team S/P Eleven lost their respective semi-finals against Nengyalees and Epsom Lightening.

Naveed Hameed, President of PANZ, informed, “We also had two more prizes, which were won by Jawaid Akhtar from the Nengyalees who was rated as the best batsman of the tournament, while the best bowler prize went to Perry from S/P Eleven.”

“Events like these help in understanding each other’s culture and assembling a diverse community in New Zealand. Our goal is to spread the message of love and respect for all communities through such initiatives,” he added.

-TIN Bureau

It was a glorious day of summer cricket, which brought the Indian sub-continent together