Punjab’s finest to spice up contest

THE status quo in this year’s Townsville Cricket season is set to get a shake-up, if the fighting words of the NQ Punjabi Rebels are anything to go by.

The Rebels are playing in Townsville Cricket’s Winter Whack Twenty20 competition starting today at Endeavour Park, where eight Twenty20 matches will be played across the weekend.

Joining the Rebels in the six-round competition are Norths, Brothers, Wanderers, Suburban Parks, Wests, Northern Beaches and Home Hill; teams that are all itching to get back on the pitch following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Strict social-distancing guidelines will apply for all matches, but the main thing for all participants is that cricket is back on.

And for the Rebels, made up from players from Townsville’s Indian community, it’s time to add some spice to the mix.

“We’re big-hitting, fast-bowling and we are here to compete,” Rebels team organiser and wicketkeeper Gautam Sinha said.

“We back ourselves. We’ve very excited, especially after the lockdown and being stuck inside.

“We’re so grateful to Norths and Townsville Cricket to organise this. We’re rearing to go.”

The Rebels have made their presence felt in local cricket in recent seasons, having played in Townsville Cricket’s lower grades, but this will be the first time they have competed in the top flight.

Most of the Rebels’ players hail from the Punjab region of cricketmad India, and have experience playing not only with the Rebels but other Townsville clubs.

“They’re essentially from Punjab, but we’ve got players from all provinces from India and we welcome any

Picture: ALIX SWEENEY WITH A CAUSE: Punjabi Rebels are pumped for the Winter Whack competition starting today and (inset) players from teams taking part in the six-round series.

Former Sub Parks batsman Riley Ward smashes a boundary.