Barras named

WICKET KEEPER Jack Vare will lead Papua New Guinea in two One Day Internationals against Kenya at the end of the month.
The Hebou PNG Barramundis 14-man squad was announced last Friday at Amini Park, with Vare reprising his role as captain and top-order batsman Assad Vala his vice.
The 30-year-old was given the reins for the national side last year, taking over from Chris Amini.
A cool and calculating lower-order batsman, Vare’s captaincy and leadership behind the stumps has seen the side settle into a competitive brand of cricket which will get another test by the Kenyans.
Coach Dipak Patel and the national selection panel of acting chairman Daniel Faunt, Taunao Vai and Api Leka has stuck with the team that took on Ireland earlier in the year in the Intercontinental Cup in Townsville, Queensland. The Barramundis will play Kenya in round three of the International Cricket Council World Cricket League Championship.
The games against Kenya will consist of two 50-over matches to be played on May 28 and 30.
Faunt, commenting on the team’s selection, said he was confident they had picked a team that could defeat the visiting Kenyans in what will be the first time for the Barramundis to play an International Cricket Council-sanctioned match in Papua New Guinea.
“Our batting group have built a great momentum through our practice matches and we have picked a good mix of pace and spin bowlers which gives us a diverse range of options,” Faunt said
Faunt said the selection panel were focused on building depth and were impressed by some of the fringe player’s performance, which boded well for the rest of the year.
The Barramundis commenced intensive training earlier this year in preparation for the upcoming matches against Kenya. Patel said the team’s fitness levels had improved significantly since the Townsville matches.
“We have improved in areas we wanted to target to improve in game plans and strategies for Kenya,” Patel, who was born in Nairobi, said.
Barramundis: Jack Vare (c), Assad Vala (v/c), Vani Vagi Morea, Lega Siaka, Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Mahuru Dai, John Boge Reva, Chad Soper, Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, Nosaina Pokana, Pipi Raho, Hiri Hiri; Reserves:  Jason Kila, Damien Ravu, Vagi Boko, Gaudi Toka.