India retains the HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup

October 31, 2022

With a win over Pakistan in the final, India have secured back-to-back HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup titles. 

After inclement weather, lack of ground availability and a global pandemic prevented the event from getting underway, the captains gathered to discuss the possibility of forgoing the 2021 edition altogether.

However, after much deliberation a solution was agreed upon. The competition was to move to a shortened indoor format held at the Hills Indoor Sports Centre, Seven Hills. 

Over the weekend, teams representing six communities – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – all converged upon the venue to battle it out for the title.

Each side played three group stage games throughout the day with the top two teams from either pool moving into the grand final, with the remaining sides shifted into a 3rd and 5th place playoff.

After a day of highly competitive but good spirited cricket, the standings for the ninth annual HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup were as follows: 

2021 HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup Champions – India
Runners Up – Pakistan
3rd – Bangladesh
4th – Afghanistan
5th – Sri Lanka
6th – Nepal

The annual HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup exists to give individuals the opportunity to connect with their community and celebrate culture through cricket.

General Manager of Sydney Thunder, Andrew Gilchrist detailed the importance of the event to the Thunder community.

“The HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup is a key program for Sydney Thunder as it provides the club with an opportunity to live it’s vision – to be a loved club”, said Gilchrist.

Trudi Busch, Director of Marketing, Sponsorship and Community at HomeWorld said the reason HomeWorld – who manage and develop the largest new home display villages across NSW – continue to support the Thunder Nation Cup is because its values extend beyond the cricket field.

“The HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup is such a wonderful event, the energy, excitement and passion on display makes it a cricket competition like no other. The players on each team proudly represent their communities and their culture, whilst they play the game we all love”, said Busch. 

“It is definitely one of our favourite annual community events, and we were so glad that after all the delays the Cup was finally contested over the weekend.” 

The Sydney Thunder would like to thank HomeWorld for their continued support of this successful community strengthening event.