Cricket gives Kirakira villager Hiri chance to travel the world

KUMUL Petroleum Papua New Guinea Barramundis middle-order batsman Hiri Hiri says without cricket, he would not have visited Fiji, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Australia, Scotland and United States.
The Kirakira villager, from the National Capital District, recalls all the places cricket has taken him to.
After dropping out of high school, he focused more on playing the sport.
Now Hiri is testament to the phrase: “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again.”
“The game of cricket will give you a great opportunity to travel the world; places you’ve never been to,” he said.
Now thinking back, Hiri said he would like to visit Scotland again.
“I visited the place where a scene of Mel Gibson’s movie, Brave Heart, was shot, so I want to go see that place again,” he said.
“It’s called the Dunning Castle.”
In Oman for the Twenty-20 World Cup, Hiri said it was definitely going to be a life-changing moment for the team because it was history in the making.
Also, he most definitely can’t wait to play against and meet other cricketers.
“I’m looking forward to meeting other players,” Hiri said.
“Most of the time, I just watch them on TV, so this will be my chance to meet them all.”
Cricket PNG found out a fun and surprising fact about him.
“Most people ask why I am the way I am,” he said.
“When I bat and bowl, I use my left hand.
“But I actually use my right hand when writing.”
Oddly enough, even Hiri himself can’t explain how that is.
But what he can explain is his favourite pastime — video games. Call of Duty is undeniably his favourite.
Otherwise, the 26-year-old has a few words of encouragement to offer his teammates in their World Cup debut.
“Just believe that we’re going to make it to the next stage and we’ll make it,” Hiri said.