Axe Creek Cricket Club's Multicultural Winter Tournament comes to an end this Sunday.
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The Bendigo Strikers and Strathdale will face off to secure championship glory.
However, the most important aspect of the tournament is to provide players from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to play the sport they love during Winter.
Strathdale captain Pavan Bade said the multicultural tournament represented a much greater importance than just cricket.
"Because of the competition it has given people from multicultural backgrounds the chance to play cricket, but to also connect and socialise with each other," Bade said.
Bade relocated to Bendigo last year from his native Mumbai for employment.
"I heard from a friend about the Winter tournament, so I joined up last year and then it opened the door for me to also play summer cricket."
He didn't know many people upon arrival, but now Bade has a solid social group thanks to the tournament which was created by the Axe Creek Cricket Club.
"James O'Bryen and the guys at Axe Creek CC have been fantastic," he said.
Bade said his love for cricket started from a young age back in India.
He simply loves every single aspect of the sport.
"Cricket is the ultimate combination of very fine skills, physical endurance and along with that you need to have a good temperament," Bade said.
"When the game goes down to the final bowl of the match, there's really nothing more exciting."
Bendigo will head into the final with an advantage, having beaten Strathdale twice during the regular season.
But Bade is more than confident his squad will put up a strong performance come Sunday.
Bendigo Strikers captain Jalal John loved having the opportunity to play cricket all year round.
"What an opportunity for us to be able to play cricket during the Winter season," John said.
"Our boys are all great cricketers, when we came to Australia we didn't think we would have the chance to play on such good grounds and facilities."
John said his team had been hard at work training for the big match against Strathdale.
But if there's one thing that's for sure, regardless of who wins come Sunday at 1pm at the Axe Creek Cricket Club, everyone within the tournament is a winner.
In addition to the match there will be free kid's cricket clinics from 12pm-12.45pm.
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