Wanderers Cricket Club and Townsville City Council play host to three days of international cricket this weekend with Papua New Guinea touring as part of their preparations for ICC Trophy in Ireland in July.
The tour, organised in conjunction with ICC’s East Asia – Pacific (EAP) office and Queensland Cricket, sees PNG take on North Queensland Army on Friday, Tropical North Development XI on Saturday and Tropical North Queensland on Sunday. All games will be played at Wanderers CC with Sunday’s feature game and luncheon sponsored by Townsville City Council.
PNG are busy preparing for ICC Trophy after their undefeated win at the World Cup Qualifying Series tournament in Malaysia in February. ICC Trophy is the final World Cup qualifier with the top five from the twelve competing teams qualifying for the pinnacle in world cricket, ICC Cricket World Cup in West Indies in 2007.
“This tour is a timely opportunity for the team to play competitive matches on turf wickets” comments ICC EAP Development Officer and PNG High Performance Coordinator Martin Gleeson “the team will be able to work on their individual skill processes with the coaching staff able to determine the batting and bowling line ups and match strategies for Ireland.”
Saturday and Sunday’s games will be played using white balls and coloured clothing to simulate the tournament conditions in Ireland. All games will also be played under full ICC One Day International playing conditions with games being 50 overs a side commencing at 10am (9:30am for Sunday’s feature match).
“PNG Cricket Board is very grateful to ICC EAP, Townsville Council, Wanderers CC, Queensland Cricket and the three teams for the opportunity to play these games in Townsville” notes PNG Cricket Board Chairman Mick Nades “Townsville is Port Moresby’s sister city and to tour here in the year of the 30th anniversary of PNG’s independence has special meaning for us.”
PNG arrive in Townsville on Wednesday 25 May and will train under lights at Wanderers CC from 6-8pm and Thursday afternoon from 2-5pm in preparation for the first game on Friday.
