- Former Pakistan batting coach praises the Top End T20 Series, Northern Territory Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey and the return of Test cricket to Darwin after 22 years
Brisbane, 2 August 2026:
For Hanif Malik, Darwin’s growing place on the international cricket calendar cannot be measured only in matches, trophies or scorecards.
The former Pakistan men’s white-ball batting coach believes the city offers young players something more enduring: the opportunity to encounter different cultures, adapt to unfamiliar conditions and develop the character required to succeed in cricket and life.
“Cricket is not only about skill,” Malik told Criczone.com.au in an exclusive interview from Saint Vincent in West Indies, where he is working during the Caribbean Premier League. “It is about your character, how quickly you adapt and how much game intelligence you have.”
Darwin will return to the center of Australian cricket this month when Australia faces Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium from Aug. 13-17. The match will be the first Test played in Darwin since 2004 and will open Australia’s 2026-27 international season.
The Study NT Top End T20 Series will follow from Aug. 20-30, continuing Northern Territory Cricket’s push to establish Darwin as a destination for international teams, emerging players and winter cricket.
Malik said the return of Test cricket after 22 years strengthened the status of the Top End and reflected the work undertaken by Northern Territory Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey and his team.
“The Test match gives recognition to Darwin and to the tournament,” Malik said. “Credit should go to the management of Northern Territory Cricket and Darwin.
“I know Gavin and he has done an outstanding job. He has continued building the tournament and creating opportunities for young players to experience cricket in Australia.”
Hanif previously travelled to Darwin through his involvement with the Kingsmen organisation. The Chicago Kingsmen competed in the 2025 Top End T20 Series alongside Pakistan Shaheens, Bangladesh A, Nepal, Big Bash League academy teams, the ACT Comets and NT Strike.
He will not return for the 2026 tournament because of an overlap with his CPL commitments, but he said Darwin remains an important part of the Kingsmen development pathway.
“I wanted to come to Darwin, but the tournament and the CPL overlap, so I had to come here for the CPL,” Malik said. “I am not going to Darwin this time, but it remains a very big opportunity.
“Teams and young players come from different parts of the world. They experience new things, compete against different opposition and see different cricketing systems.”
A pathway beyond domestic cricket
45-year-old Hanif said the Kingsmen organisation wants to create a pathway through which players can progress from club and domestic cricket into international development tournaments and professional leagues.
“We have a pathway from club cricket to domestic cricket, the Pakistan Super League, Darwin and cricket in the United States,” he said.
“When a young player develops through that system, he receives opportunities in different environments. Eventually, he can also put himself in a position to represent Pakistan.”
Hanif said players who perform within the Kingsmen system could be considered for opportunities in Darwin and other overseas competitions.
The purpose, he said, is not simply to arrange more matches. It is to expose players to different pitches, opponents, coaching philosophies and cultures.
“Playing in Australia gives young cricketers a different environment and different pitches,” Hanif said. “It improves their adaptability and flexibility.
“They must compete against unfamiliar opposition and learn how to perform in pressure situations. Those experiences can help them excel in their own game.”
More than a cricket tournament
Hanif described his previous visit to Darwin as one of the most valuable experiences of his coaching career.
He said the tournament allowed coaches to exchange ideas while giving players a chance to observe how cricketers from other countries prepare, communicate and respond to pressure.
“The coaches also benefit,” Hanif said. “They meet each other, discuss cricket and share different approaches.
“Young cricketers come from around the world, compete against each other and explore the game. It is an excellent tournament for player development.”
Hanif said the multicultural atmosphere surrounding the event was equally important.
“The local supporters were very good and came to the grounds,” he said. “It was not only Pakistani supporters. Fans from different countries sat together, enjoyed the matches and supported good cricket.
“It was special to see people from around the world sitting in one place. The environment gave the tournament a genuine international feeling.”
Those interactions, Hanif said, can be as important as anything that happens on the field.
“A player learns how to travel, how to communicate, how to conduct himself and how to adjust to unfamiliar situations,” he said.
“You can make friends and develop relationships with people from other teams. When I went to Darwin, I became friends with Gavin, other coaches and many local people.”
Developing character and professionalism
Hanif said the Kingsmen vision is built around producing well-rounded players rather than focusing exclusively on batting, bowling and fielding.
“We want players to work on their cricket skills, but we are also working on their life skills, mental toughness, character building and professionalism,” he said.
“Young players need those qualities in the modern cricketing world. That development can help them improve not only as cricketers but also as people.”
Malik believes the wider benefits could eventually be felt by Pakistan cricket as players return home with greater confidence, adaptability and game awareness.
“The benefit is not only for Kingsmen,” he said. “Pakistan cricket can benefit as well.
“Young players can return with a different mentality and new competitive DNA. They will understand that cricket is not only about technical skill. It is also about your character, how quickly you adapt and how intelligently you understand the game.”
With Test cricket returning to Darwin and the Top End T20 Series continuing to attract teams from outside Australia, Hanif believes Dovey and Northern Territory Cricket have created a platform with lasting value.
“It is not just another cricket tournament,” Hanif said. “For a young player, it can become a lifelong journey.”
