Barras announce team

By PATRICIA KEAMO
PAPUA New Guinea Barramundis head coach Tatenda Taibu says he’s confident with the depth of his squad that will be making their second appearance at the ICC Twenty-20 (T20) World Cup.
Cricket PNG yesterday announced a 15-man squad for the World Cup with five Barras making their World Cup debut, including youngsters Hila Vare and John Kariko.
The team will be departing for West Indies on Monday where they’ll have nine days for their lead up preparation and warm up matches in St Kitts before the main event in Trinidad and Tobago.
With the Barras pooled with three full ICC member nations in the hosts West Indies, New Zealand and Afghanistan, Taibu said his men are at the fitness standard expected and will be giving their best at the World Cup.
“I’m pretty happy with the squad that was selected. I think we selected it fairly and I think it’s a good balance where we’ve got enough batters and bowlers and what I’m really happy about is we’ve got plenty of all-rounders,” Taibu told The National.
“We used the tour in India, Hong Kong and Malaysia to be the final test for selection and we wanted players to understand that selection comes from performances.
“I’m impressed with how preparation has been going and we will continue working in training until we leave on Monday. When we hit St. Kitts, we will sway from the technical and we start going into the tactical aspect of the game,” said the coach.
The Barras have a couple of practice matches lined up for them in St Kitts, including two warm up matches arranged by the ICC against Canada and Namibia.
The team has been hard at training since last December for the World Cup which included a 14-day camp in Brisbane, a month-long tour of India, Oman, Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as the recent Isuzu T20 Smash tournament.
For the squad selected, apart from Vare and Kariko, also making their debut at the World Cup are Alei Nao, and Sema Kamea as well as Jack Gardner, who was on the reserve list for the last World Cup in Oman.
The other 10 players including the captain have competed at the Barramundis’ maiden World Cup and their experience will come handing, especially with the challenging group they are in.
Squad: Assad Vala, (C), Charles Amini Jr (VC), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau, Tony Ura. Officials: Tamzin Wardley (team manager), Richard Done (CEO), Tatenda Taibu (head coach), John Ovia (assistant coach), Nathan Reardon (specialist coach), Phillip Simmons (specialist coach), Dr. Najeebullah Soomro (medical officer), Hennah Joku (media manager), Sihiy Johang (physiotherapist), Harrison McConchie (analyst).