Focus on local cricket for T20 World Cup

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE national women’s cricket team are focused on playing domestic cricket in preparation for the Twenty-20 (T20) World Cup qualifiers later this year, according to an official.
The World Cup will be held in South Africa from Feb 9-26.
Cricket Papua New Guinea general manager Tony Naidu said after a week-long break following the Lewas’ tour of Australia, the team had returned to training at Amini Park.
“We will shift focus to playing our domestic competitions starting with the Trukai Village Premier League and the annual Isuzu Cup,” he told The National.
“Apart from competition training, the Lewas and the Under-19 national women’s team are into the second week of their training at the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.
“The training covers micro-credentials in Coronavirus safety, computer skills, communication and money management.
“At the end of this programme, all of our players will have multiple micro-credentials that will teach them to use the vital skills now and beyond.
“But in terms of domestic competitions, both squads will be playing in the revamped Isuzu Cup in May and June.
“They will be playing for three trophies across two-day, limited-over and T20 cricket.
“This will be a great build-up for their important international competitions in July.”
Naidu confirmed with this paper yesterday that Lewas head coach Kath Hempenstall would arrive in Port Moresby today to oversee the preparations of both squads.
Hempenstall also told this paper that the Lewas would ramp up preparations T-20 World Cup qualifiers later this year.