Cricketers honour Raka – The National

**Norman Vanua and his Barramundis teammates honouring the late Tuku Raka yesterday.**

**The late Tuku Raka’s wife Venau Raka receiving a baggy black (Barramundis cricket cap) from national team captain Assad Vala.**

PAPUA New Guinea cricketers, past and present, honoured the late Tuku “Thunder” Raka at Amini Park in Port Moresby yesterday.
In salute of his contributions to the code in the country, Raka received a grand gesture.
As the casket arrived, it was received and shouldered by part of the national men’s team, paraded through a bat salute by PNG legends and the remaining Barramundis players before being rested on the cricket ground for tributes.
Raka’s honorary salute saw the likes of legends Charles Amini, Babani Harry, Navu Maha, Lakani Oala and Api Leka paying their respects to the former pace bowler.
He represented the country in the Barramundis’ tour of England, Kenya, Malaysia and the Netherlands between 1986 and 1997.
Raka was commended for giving so much to the country through his passion and commitment.
He was given one last honorary lap around the cricket ground before the casket was driven out of Amini Park to be laid to rest at Keapara in Rigo, Central.
“The grand gesture was brief, yet magnificent as Cricket PNG strictly adhered to the standing orders issued by the state of emergency controller,” the sport’s national governing body said in a statement.