Team Australia plans to take on Cuba in late 2018 in an international baseball series announced by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Cuba on Friday 30 June 2017 (Saturday morning Australian time).
The historic agreement recognises Australia’s improved standing on the world baseball stage, with Team Australia now ranked at eighth in the world - an all-time high, and Cuba ranked three places higher in fifth.
It is envisaged that the Australia-Cuba series would alternate between the two countries, opening up significant opportunity for tourism, business and trade, further demonstrating the power of sports diplomacy in building greater understanding and cooperation between Australia and Cuba.
The International series will bring top-level baseball to Australian soil and provide the opportunity for both countries to get meaningful preparation as both Australia and Cuba seek to qualify for the Premier12 Baseball Championship and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The countries most recently met at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in the group stage, with Australia taking an early lead, only to go down 4-3 against a strong Cuban team. The series will see the two nations lock horns again, in what is sure to be a classic series.
Baseball Australia CEO Cam Vale was delighted to confirm the news, as baseball continues to take great strides forward on the Australian sporting landscape.
“This is a great opportunity for the Australian sporting public to watch some of the best baseball players on the planet play in a meaningful series on Australia soil,” said Vale.
“Key to our growth agenda at Baseball Australia is to ensure Australians can watch their national team more regularly on Australian soil, and to secure a series against a world giant of international baseball like Cuba is really significant.”
“We look forward to building on the 2018 Australia-Cuba series and the range of new opportunities it will bring in both a fan engagement and commercial sense.”
“On behalf of everyone in the Australian baseball community I’d like to personally acknowledge the support of Minister Bishop and the Australian Government in helping bring about this important series."
Baseball Australia will release more detail regarding the Australia-Cuba Baseball Series in coming months.