Cricket Australia has announced the National Indigenous Cricket Championships will depart its traditional home of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, with this season's tournament set to be held in Mackay.
The decision sees the National Indigenous Cricket Championships move away from the Red Centre after eight instalments of the NICC, which was previously held as a division of the Imparja Cup.
Cricket Australia (CA) says the decision to hold the Championships on Yuwibara Country in Mackay follows discussion with state and territory government about "the opportunity to collaborate with CA about hosting events and national tournaments over the next seven seasons".
"This move aligns with CA's new Reconciliation Action Plan and the aim to sustainably strengthen opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to play, attend and follow cricket," Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Cricket Australia's Executive General Manager, Events & Operations, Joel Morrison, said it was exciting for the NICC to be contested at Mackay's international cricket venue, Great Barrier Reef Arena.
"We are grateful to the Queensland Government, Mackay Regional Council, Harrup Park and Queensland Cricket for their ongoing support in staging significant international and domestic cricket events such as this tournament in Mackay, which is fast becoming a regular feature on the Australian cricket calendar," Mr Morrison said.
Cricket Australia said the decision to host the NICC in Mackay was made in close collaboration with CA's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Group, Northern Territory Cricket, and after First Nations players expressed a desire to connect with Country, cultures and communities in other regions.
On behalf of Cricket Australia, Mr Morrison thanked Northern Territory Cricket, the Imparja Cup and Alice Springs cricket communities, the Northern Territory Government and Alice Springs Town Council "for the significant role they have played in growing the NICC since its inception, and greatly enhancing the tournament's cultural significance and level of on-field competition."
In announcing the host city of the 2025 NICC, Mr Morrison also confirmed the Imparja Cup's future, with the 31-year history of the tournament set to continue in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
"The Imparja Cup will continue to remain the centrepiece for Indigenous cricket in the Territory, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with NT Cricket on growing community participation and maintaining a strong connection between the Imparja Cup and NICC," Mr Morrison said.
Western Australia (men) and New South Wales (women) will enter the tournament looking to defend their titles at the this season's NICC tournament, which will be held in Mackay from April 2-7, 2025.
