Barramundis to host Kenya in ODI

 By MELTON PAIS

CRICKET Papua New Guinea will host an International Cricket Council-sanctioned One Day International (ODI), the country’s first at Amini Park in Port Moresby in May.

Kenya will play PNG’s Hebou Baramundis as part of the CPNG’s ICC requirements of hosting two ODIs this year.

Barramundis captain Jack Vare said the match would see the Africans, who are ranked No.13 by the ICC in ODIs, play in PNG for the first time as well.

Vare said the Barramundis squad had already started training.

The 30-year-old wicket-keeper led the side against Ireland in January during the Intercontinental Cup in Townsville, Queensland.

“We started training on Monday and will continue over the next seven weeks,” Vare said.

For Vare, who started playing as a 10-year-old in Hanuabada, Port Moresby, the challenge of taking on a team that started playing ODIs 20 years ago (1996) and who have recorded wins over  heavyweights India, West Indies and Sri Lanka, is one he is relishing as a player and a leader.

“Kenya are one of the best ODI sides outside the top 10 nations. They’ve qualified for ODI World Cups and beaten some of the best teams in this format but we’re not doubting ourselves because we’ve played against them several times over the years in limited overs and T20 matches and beaten them so we’re confident we can be competitive at home,” Vare said.