Cricket PNG lauds Sir Brian’s support

CRICKET PNG through chief executive officer Bill Leane yesterday expressed shock and sadness at the passing of their patron Sir Brian Bell .
“Sir Brian was a giant of the P NG community and was widely admired for his passionate commitment and support of a myriad of community, church, sport and educative endeavours,” Leane said in a release.
“As with all his endeavours, as patron of Cricket PNG, Sir Brian acted with great integrity, passion and dedication. He recognised that sport could be a tool for the development of a community and subsequently believed that the growth of cricket would have a long term benefit for all Papua New Guineans.”
Leane said one of Sir Brian’s legacies which was starting to reap rewards was the  Brian Bell future stars scholarship programme.
“The scholarship programme places PNG cricketers with great potential into elite club and first class level competitions around the world.”
Established last year, the programme provides the means for the development of a better national cricket programme but more importantly, more balanced and worldly athletes who will contribute positively to their communities in the long term.
“Cricket hopes that this will be seen as Sir Brian’s legacy to cricket and we thank the entire Brian Bell group.”
PNG Barramundis’ skipper Rarua Dikana said Sir Brian had been a mentor and friend to him and many former and current representatives.
“We heard the news during the innings break of our match against the Indigenous XI on Sunday, and ,as a team, we dedicate that game and our final match on Tuesday (today) to our friend Sir Brian,” Dikana said.
Leane added that as a mark of respect and acknowledgment for all that Sir Brian Bell had done for cricket and the players, the flags would be at half mast at Amini Park.
The Barramundis will also wear black arm bands for today’s final match against the visiting Indigenous XI and both teams will observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Sir Brian before begining the 50-over match. “We will miss his charm, humour and integrity.”