Cricket PNG (CPNG) has announced the PNG Barramundis Team for the ICC MEN’S T20 WORLDCUP that will be held in the West Indies and USA, from the 25th of May to the 29th of June 2024.
The team members are Alei NAO, Chad SOPER, Tony URA, Hila VARE, Hiri HIRI, Jack GARDNER, John KARIKO, Kabua MOREA, Kipling DORIGA, Lega SIAKA, Norman VANUA, Sema KAMEA, Sese BAO, who will be led by Assadollah Vala (Captain) and Charles Amini (Vice captain).
CPNG has highlighted that these men were selected through their consistent high performance.
According to a Press statement made by CPNG, PNG Barramundis Coach, Tatenda Taibu echoed that the Selection process was fair one to all the players.
“I have officially been with Cricket PNG since January this year and given that time, our selection process for the team to represent PNG at the T20 World Cup, has been fair to all players. We used the tour to India, Oman, Hong Kong and Malaysia to be the final test for selection, and we wanted the players to understand that selection comes from performances. If someone brings statistics and says that this is what I’ve been doing, performances with the bat, with the ball or with the gloves, then we are forced to look at that player, so that’s what we used and that’s the basis for all selections. It’s going to be performance-based which opens the door for selection for anyone who performs in the country.
In following that process, I am extremely happy with the team that I’ve got, and the preparation has been going very well. After a short break following the Men’s Isuzu T20 Smash tournament, we have been working on our skills, and in the upcoming week until we depart, we will focus on the opposition that we will be playing against. Fitness wise the team is at the standard that we expect and want so everyone is playing at the best of their abilities. Giving one hundred percent is nonnegotiable.”
CPNG CEO, Michael Harrison, has expressed that it was an exciting time for Cricket PNG as the Barramundis and Siales are participating in international events.
“It’s an exciting time for cricket in PNG, and with the men’s and women’s Isuzu T20 Smash successfully completed, we head straight into international cricket again. Our PNG Siales departed this week for their U19 T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier, and we wish them all the best. Our PNG Barramundis also head off to the ‘big one’, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which we’ve been waiting for since we qualified in July last year.” Harrison said
The Barramundis will depart Port Moresby on the 13th of May 2024 and will go into a preparation camp for nine days before moving to Trinidad for the support period and two official warm-up matches. The first-round matches commence on 2nd June 2024, with PNG taking on the West Indies, a previous winner of this event, followed by Uganda, Afghanistan, and New Zealand.
Photo Credit: Cricket PNG
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