Top End T20
| Countries | Australia |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Northern Territory Cricket |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| First Edition | 2022 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and playoffs |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| TV | YouTube (internet), Fancode, A Sports, ARY Zap, T Sports, Tapmad, Willow |
| Website | https://www.ntcricket.com.au/ |
| File:Cricket current event.svg 2025 | |
The 2025 Top End T20 Series is a Twenty20 cricket tournament held in the Northern Territory, Australia, organized by Northern Territory Cricket and sanctioned by Cricket Australia.[1] The fourth edition of the tournament, it is scheduled to take place from 14 to 24 August 2025 in Darwin, featuring a record 11 teams, including four international sides, and 36 T20 matches across five venues: DXC Arena, TIO Stadium, Gardens Oval, Cazaly’s Arena, and Freds Pass.[2]
The tournament serves as a pre-season event for the Big Bash League and provides preparation for international teams, notably Nepal, aiming to secure one of the three remaining spots at the 2026 T20 World Cup through qualifiers in Oman in October 2025.[1][3]
History
The 2025 Top End T20 Series marks the first participation of the Nepal senior team, alongside international ‘A’ teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the Chicago Kingsmen, champions of the 2024 Minor League Cricket in the USA.[3] The tournament, launched in 2022 as part of the Cricket 365 initiative to promote year-round cricket in Australia, has grown significantly, with the 2024 edition reaching a global viewership of 12.8 million across 129 countries.[2] The 2025 series follows two historic T20 International matches between Australia and South Africa on 10 and 12 August in Darwin, enhancing the region’s cricketing profile.[2]
Tournament Structure
The 2025 Top End T20 Series features 11 teams competing in a round-robin format during the league stage, with each team playing six matches. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the final. A total of 36 matches will be played across five venues in Darwin.[2]
Teams
The 2025 tournament includes 11 teams: one senior international team (Nepal), two international ‘A’ teams (Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh HP XI), the Chicago Kingsmen from the USA, the local NT Strike, and six academy teams from Big Bash League franchises.[3]
| Team | Debut | Captain | Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Comets | 
|
2023 | Tyler van Luin | Jono Dean |
| Adelaide Strikers Academy |
|
2024 | Liam Scott | |
| Bangladesh HP XI/Bangladesh A | 
|
2024 | Saif Hassan | Jamie Siddons |
| Chicago Kingsmen | 
|
2025 | Hammad Azam | Grant Bradburn |
| Hobart Hurricanes Academy |
|
2025 | ||
| Melbourne Renegades Academy |
|
2022 | Will Sutherland | |
| Melbourne Stars Academy |
|
2022 | Hilton Cartwright | Chris Rogers |
| Nepal | 
|
2025 | Rohit Paudel | Stuart Law |
| NT Strike |
|
2022 | Jacob Dickman | Simon Helmot |
| Pakistan Shaheens | 
|
2023 | Irfan Khan Niazi | Aizaz Cheema |
| Perth Scorchers Academy |
|
2024 | Sam Fanning | Tim MacDonald |
Squads
Nepal
The Nepal squad, led by captain Rohit Paudel with Dipendra Singh Airee as vice-captain, includes: Aasif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Aarif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Rupesh Singh, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Karan KC, Rijan Dhakal, Lokesh Bam, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi.[3]
Pakistan Shaheens
The Pakistan Shaheens squad includes: Abdul Samad (BAT), Haider Ali (BAT), Irfan Khan (BAT), Yasir Khan (BAT), Maaz Sadaqat (ALL-R), Mubasir Khan (ALL-R), Saad Masood (ALL-R), Ghazi Ghori (WK), Khawaja Nafay (WK), Ahmed Daniyal (BOWL), Faisal Akram (BOWL), Mehran Mumtaz (BOWL), Salman Mirza (BOWL), Shahid Aziz (BOWL), Ubaid Shah (BOWL).[4]
Melbourne Stars Academy
The Melbourne Stars Academy squad includes: Blake Macdonald (BAT), Campbell Kellaway (BAT), Max Birthisel (BAT), Thomas Rogers (BAT), Aryan Sharma (ALL-R), Austin Anlezark (ALL-R), Christian Howe (ALL-R), Jonathan Merlo (ALL-R), Liam Blackford (WK), Sam Harper (WK), Cameron McClure (BOWL), Doug Warren (BOWL), Hamish McKenzie (BOWL), Sam Elliott (BOWL).[4]
Australian Capital Territory (ACT Comets)
The ACT Comets squad includes: Jake Smith (BAT), Nicholas Broes (BAT), Nick Allen (BAT), Tom Hogan (BAT), Zak Keogh (BAT), Eesam Rahman (ALL-R), Kai Brunker (ALL-R), Scott Murn (ALL-R), Michael McNamara (WK), Zac Maron (WK), Akshay Joseph (BOWL), Dave Dubey (BOWL), Lewis Evans (BOWL), Samuel Skelly (BOWL).[4]
Adelaide Strikers Academy
The Adelaide Strikers Academy squad includes: Alex Ross (BAT), Jake Winter (BAT), Mackenzie Harvey (BAT), Ryan King (BAT), Aidan Cahill (ALL-R), Harry Manenti (ALL-R), Jerrssis Wadia (ALL-R), Harry Nielsen (WK), Aubrey Stockdale (BOWL), Hanno Jacobs (BOWL), Josh Kann (BOWL), Tim Oakley (BOWL), Tom O'Connell (BOWL).[4]
Melbourne Renegades Academy
The Melbourne Renegades Academy squad includes: Dylan Brasher (BAT), Josh Brown (BAT), Michael Archer (BAT), Ollie Peake (BAT), Arjun Nair (ALL-R), Harry Dixon (ALL-R), Will Sutherland (ALL-R), Jai Lemire (WK), Callum Stow (BOWL), David Moody (BOWL), Fergus O'Neill (BOWL), Harry Hoekstra (BOWL), Xavier Crone (BOWL).[4]
Perth Scorchers Academy
The Perth Scorchers Academy squad includes: Jayden Goodwin (BAT), Matthew Spoors (BAT), Nick Hobson (BAT), Sam Fanning (BAT), Teague Wyllie (BAT), Albert Esterhuysen (ALL-R), Keaton Critchell (ALL-R), Baxter Holt (WK), Joel Curtis (WK), Brody Couch (BOWL), Bryce Jackson (BOWL), Corey Rocchiccioli (BOWL), Luke Holt (BOWL), Matthew Kelly (BOWL).[4]
NT Strike
The NT Strike squad includes: Archie McCormick, Cadell McMahon, Charlie Smith, Connor Carroll, D’Arcy Short, Hamish Martin, Jacob Dickman, Jai Allman, Jake Weatherald, Jordan Silk, Kane Richardson, Matt Hammond, Sam Elder, Tom Andrews, Tom Menzies.[5]
Bangladesh HP XI/Bangladesh A
The Bangladesh HP XI squad is yet to be announced.[4]
Chicago Kingsmen
The Chicago Kingsmen squad is yet to be announced.[4]
Hobart Hurricanes Academy
The Hobart Hurricanes Academy squad is yet to be announced.[4]
Schedule
The full schedule for the 2025 Top End T20 Series is as follows:[4]
| Date | Match | Venue | Teams | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 August 2025 | Match 1 | Darwin | Pakistan Shaheens vs. Bangladesh A | 15:15 |
| 15 August 2025 | Match 2 | Darwin | Australian Capital Territory vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 07:15 |
| 15 August 2025 | Match 3 | Darwin | Melbourne Stars Academy vs. Melbourne Renegades Academy | 10:15 |
| 15 August 2025 | Match 4 | Darwin | Chicago Kingsmen vs. Perth Scorchers Academy | 12:15 |
| 15 August 2025 | Match 5 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Nepal | 14:15 |
| 16 August 2025 | Match 6 | Darwin | Melbourne Renegades Academy vs. Australian Capital Territory | 07:15 |
| 16 August 2025 | Match 7 | Darwin | Melbourne Stars Academy vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 10:15 |
| 16 August 2025 | Match 8 | Darwin | Pakistan Shaheens vs. Perth Scorchers Academy | 12:15 |
| 16 August 2025 | Match 9 | Darwin | Bangladesh A vs. Nepal | 15:15 |
| 17 August 2025 | Match 10 | Darwin | Chicago Kingsmen vs. Adelaide Strikers Academy | 07:15 |
| 17 August 2025 | Match 11 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 09:15 |
| 17 August 2025 | Match 12 | Darwin | Perth Scorchers Academy vs. Bangladesh A | 15:15 |
| 18 August 2025 | Match 13 | Darwin | Nepal vs. Melbourne Stars Academy | 07:15 |
| 18 August 2025 | Match 14 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Australian Capital Territory | 10:15 |
| 18 August 2025 | Match 15 | Darwin | Melbourne Renegades Academy vs. Pakistan Shaheens | 14:15 |
| 19 August 2025 | Match 16 | Darwin | Adelaide Strikers Academy vs. Perth Scorchers Academy | 06:15 |
| 19 August 2025 | Match 17 | Darwin | Chicago Kingsmen vs. Pakistan Shaheens | 09:15 |
| 19 August 2025 | Match 18 | Darwin | Nepal vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 11:15 |
| 19 August 2025 | Match 19 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Bangladesh A | 15:15 |
| 20 August 2025 | Match 20 | Darwin | Chicago Kingsmen vs. Australian Capital Territory | 06:15 |
| 20 August 2025 | Match 21 | Darwin | Melbourne Stars Academy vs. Perth Scorchers Academy | 09:15 |
| 20 August 2025 | Match 22 | Darwin | Nepal vs. Melbourne Renegades Academy | 11:15 |
| 20 August 2025 | Match 23 | Darwin | Pakistan Shaheens vs. Adelaide Strikers Academy | 15:15 |
| 21 August 2025 | Match 24 | Darwin | Melbourne Renegades Academy vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 06:15 |
| 21 August 2025 | Match 25 | Darwin | Australian Capital Territory vs. Adelaide Strikers Academy | 09:15 |
| 21 August 2025 | Match 26 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Chicago Kingsmen | 11:15 |
| 21 August 2025 | Match 27 | Darwin | Bangladesh A vs. Melbourne Stars Academy | 15:15 |
| 22 August 2025 | Match 28 | Darwin | Melbourne Renegades Academy vs. Adelaide Strikers Academy | 07:15 |
| 22 August 2025 | Match 29 | Darwin | Northern Territory Strike vs. Perth Scorchers Academy | 11:15 |
| 22 August 2025 | Match 30 | Darwin | Pakistan Shaheens vs. Nepal | 15:15 |
| 23 August 2025 | Match 31 | Darwin | Chicago Kingsmen vs. Hobart Hurricanes Academy | 07:15 |
| 23 August 2025 | Match 32 | Darwin | Australian Capital Territory vs. Melbourne Stars Academy | 10:15 |
| 23 August 2025 | Match 33 | Darwin | Bangladesh A vs. Adelaide Strikers Academy | 13:15 |
| 24 August 2025 | 1st Semi-Final | Darwin | T.B.C. vs. T.B.C. | 06:15 |
| 24 August 2025 | 2nd Semi-Final | Darwin | T.B.C. vs. T.B.C. | 06:15 |
| 24 August 2025 | Final | Darwin | T.B.C. vs. T.B.C. | 12:15 |
Venues
Matches will be played at five venues in Darwin:
- DXC Arena
- TIO Stadium
- Gardens Oval
- Cazaly’s Arena
- Freds Pass[2]
Broadcasting
| Region | Broadcast Partner | Click To View |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Cricket Australia YouTube | View Here |
| India | Fancode | View Here |
| Pakistan | A Sports & ARY Zap | View Here |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | View Here |
| Nepal | Tapmad | View Here |
| USA & Canada | Willow | View Here |
| Rest of World | Cricket Australia YouTube | View Here |
Source:[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nepal to play Top End T20 Series in Australia in August". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "2025 Top End T20 Series Dates Announced". ntcricket.com.au. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Nepal's squad for Australia's Top End T20 announced". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 "Top End T20 Series, 2025 - Matches". cricket.com. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ↑ "Home Grown Stars Return for Top End T20 Series". ntcricket.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ↑ "Top End T20 - Where To Watch". ntcricket.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
External links
| National teams | |
|---|---|
| State federations | |
| State teams | |
| Big Bash League franchise teams | |
| Competitions | |
| Grounds | |
| Honours | |
| Lists |
|
| Other | |
| Seasons |  | |
|---|---|---|
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| Venues | ||
| Statistics and records | ||
| Lists | ||
| Related topics | ||
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