CRICKET PNG’S GARAMUTS MEN’S U19 AND SIALES WOMEN’S U19 SELECTIONS ENTER NEXT PHASE.

Feb 28

CRICKET PNG’S GARAMUTS MEN’S U19 AND SIALES WOMEN’S U19 SELECTIONS ENTER NEXT PHASE.

TEAMS FROM THE TWO U19 SQUADS TO COMPETE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS PART OF AN EXTENDED SELECTION PROCESS.

Cricket PNG’s selection process to finalize the Garamuts Men’s Under 19 team enters its next phase, as focus shifts to the 28-player train-on squad to compete in 50-Over matches from 10:00am this Saturday and Sunday at Bisini Oval, in Port Moresby.

Training started on Monday 19th February 2024 and will continue over the next 5 weeks. Garamut’s Coach Jack Vare-Kevere’s program will include strategy and tactical classroom sessions and skill work training alongside strength and conditioning sessions with S&C Coach Anthea Murray.

Expected to attend the matches from the selection committee are David Bishop, Head of Selectors, Rodney Maha- Talent Identification Manager, Chris Amini, Men’s Selector, Garamuts Coach, Jack Vare-Kevere, and Senior Manager & Barramundis Coach Tatenda Taibu, on his return from the current Barramundi’s tour. They will select a final 18-player squad that will be announced between the 15th and 19th of April 2024.

The Garamut’s team travel to the ICC East Asia Pacific (EAP) Division 2 Qualifier in Apia-Samoa in July 2024, so the final 14 will be announced in June.

The Siales U19 team is also well into their preparation for their travel to Bali, Indonesia for the ICC EAP U19 World Cup Qualifier from May 13th to 22nd 2024.

CPNG’s Talent Identification Manager, Rodney Maha, when asked about the Siales U19 Women’s Squad who returned to their provinces last week, said “There was a lot of talent shown with U19 players flying in from around PNG. They came from Milne Bay, Lae, Kimbe and Central to join the majority from NCD which has the biggest cricket talent pool.

Maha said, “The Coach of Siales U19 Women’s team, Mahuru Dai, is to make recommendations, as it is up to the Coaches to look at the team makeup, for example, if they want more bowlers. The task has been given to the coaches to develop the best Siales combination to represent Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Siales must win in Bali to get a place in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in early 2025.”

The team is based around a core group of players from the Under 19 squad that took part in the Cricket Australia U19 Championship in December 2023“, Rodney Maha said.

Siales Coach Mahuru Dai said, “The Siales U19 women will play 2 x T20 matches each Saturday over the next 3 weeks, starting from 2nd March 2024+.

He added that, “The selection of this squad involves looking at their skill level under pressure in match situations, and on 18th March 2024, at the end of the three weeks of matches, we will announce a reduced 18-player Siales squad. Cricket PNG hope to soon announce a preparation tour for the Siales in late March with the team returning in time for the Isuzu T20 Smash in Port Moresby, starting on 20th April 2024.”

This year the process for selection has been based on junior hard-ball competitions played in late 2023. Previous selections for the U19 teams came from the BSP School Kriket soft cricket ball junior competition but last October, Cricket PNG’s Senior Manager - Domestic Cricket, Lakani Oala, identified a gap with hardball competition, that required strengthening. CPNG took the vital step to introduce a junior hardball competition known as the Malolo Junior Hardball Cricket Program, in which 171 teams took part and which ran leading into and into the Christmas school holidays around Papua New Guinea.

Listed below, are Cricket PNG’s train-on squads for the next four weeks to get a spot in to represent Papua New Guinea in the respective EAP Qualifiers.

GARAMUTS MEN’S U19 SQUAD

1) Adrian Sila (MILNE BAY)

2) Anaster Keimelo (NCD)

3) Anthony David (NCD)

4) Bapi Naime (NCD)

5) Boe Tolana (NCD)

6) Dai Mahuru (NCD)

7)Dauncey Tom (NCD)

8) David Taraka (NCD)

9) Emmanuel Ravusiro (NCD)

10) Frank Naime (NCD)

11) Gaba Frank (NCD)