About the HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup
The annual HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup is a celebration of culture, cricket, community and social cohesion.
Teams drawn from Sydney Thunder’s territory, known as the Thunder Nation, celebrate their cultural ties to their former homelands by playing Australia’s national sport, cricket.
Ravi Adabala (India): “When I came to Australia a few years back, I hardly knew anyone here, now I can proudly say that I got a big extended family and friends here, all the credit goes to cricket. Cricket always unites people,” said Ravi Adabala, who represented India.
Haadia Khan (World XI Blue): After learning to play cricket as a six-year-old at Summer Hill Cricket Club in Sydney’s inner west, Haadia, who boasts Pakistani heritage, went on to play for Canterbury-Western Suburbs, Sydney before joining Bankstown Cricket Club.
Haadia has urged cricketers to get behind the Thunder Nation Cup – and all cricket – because she believes it’s a sport that allows for people to achieve their goals and for cultures to combine.
Aarya Shipurkar (India): Besides studying her Bachelor Exercise Sports Science/ Bachelor of Nutrition Science Sports and Exercise, Aarya also plays for Universities in the NSW Premier competition.
Aarya, who has played alongside such stars as Alex Blackwell, Stella Campbell, and Olivia Porter, said she thrives in the team environment that exists in cricket.
Her talent as an off-spin bowler was recognised during the women’s World Cup staged in Australia and she was selected as a net bowler for the Australian team.
The latest edition of the tournament saw teams represent communities from all over the world including, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, African Nations, and European Nations.
If you're a male or female cricketer from a multicultural or culturally diverse background and would like to attend a trial event, follow Sydney Thunder socials for the latest news or email Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder has partnered with the Afghan Australia Youth Association and the Nepalese Cricket Association to deliver gala days for the Afghan and Nepalese communities. Please email Sydney Thunder to register your interest.
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.
“We are committed to partnering with Sydney Thunder to deliver the HomeWorld Thunder Nation Cup each year,” said Busch.
“Not only is it an important initiative that brings communities together, but it is a wonderful celebration of cricket and culture.
“We look forward to watching the tournament being played, and the pride and passion that each player will bring to their game as they represent their country.”
For more information, please contact Sydney Thunder.