A cricket tournament at the Pacific Games, previously the South Pacific Games, was introduced in 1979 and was played intermittently at games in the 1980s and 1990s, depending on the facilities of the host nation. Since 2003, cricket has featured at every Pacific Games. Detailed records of the tournaments prior to 2003 have not been kept and beyond knowing what teams won the gold and silver medals at each Games, little is known with certainty of the first three tournaments.
Contents
Performance by team
1979
Venue: Suva, Fiji
Seven teams contested the first cricket tournament at the South Pacific Games:
1987
Venue: Nouméa, New Caledonia
1991
Venue: Port Moresby/Lae, Papua New Guinea
2003
Venue: Suva, Fiji
2007
Venue: Apia, Samoa
Round robin tournament of limited overs cricket (maximum 50 overs per side).
2011
Venue: Noumea, New Caledonia
In 2011 the format was switched to the shorter Twenty20 game instead of the previous 50 over cricket. A round-robin stage was played before the two top teams met in the final.
2015
Venue: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
In 2015, a women's tournament was held for the first time alongside the men's tournament. The 20-over format was retained.
2019
Tonga included both men's and women's cricket in its successful bid for the 2019 Pacific Games, to be held in Nukuʻalofa.
Pacific Mini Games
For the first time, Vanuatu included a men's cricket tournament in its successful bid for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games, to be held in Port Vila. The cricket facilities near Korman Stadium are planned to be renovated before the tournament. However, the effects of Cyclone Pam in 2015 have, according to some sources, cast doubt upon the country's ability to host the games.
Records
As detailed results have not been kept for the first three tournaments, it is not possible to present detailed records. What is known is that Papua New Guinea's total of 572/7 against New Caledonia is the highest team total in any international one-day match, along with the winning margin of 510 runs, and therefore also in the South Pacific Games.