Garamuts to name 15-man World Cup squad on Dec 27

A FINAL 15-man squad for next year’s Under-19 World Cup will be named on Dec 27 before the Garamuts go into pre-travel quarantine, according to an official.
The final squad was scheduled to be named yesterday, but Cricket Papua New Guinea general manager Tony Naidu said the announcement had been deferred to the end of the month due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“The reason for this is to ensure that we have the best chance to send a team as we will be having our final polymerase chain reaction test on that date and anyone who tests positive will be ruled out,” he told The National yesterday.
“The team’s travel arrangements have not been finalised yet, but they are expected to depart by Dec 30.
“All players and support staff have been fully vaccinated. We are waiting for the last few squad members to have their passports issued. This has taken nearly three months and has been very frustrating, however, we are close to having that confirmed.”
The Garamuts are scheduled to go into quarantine on Dec 27 after doing their final test.
“They will not be able to leave rooms once they enter and no-one will be able to see them,” Naidu said.
“There are additional tests that will be done on Dec 10, 20 and 24.
“At any stage, any positive test will likely rule the player out of the tour.”
Naidu said the travelling contingent would consist of 15 players and five support staff, including head coach John Ovia and Barramundis coach Carl Sandri.
“Ovia will be leading the team and Sandri will assist him,” he said.
“Rio Fiocco, our former deputy chairman, who only retired from the board after 10 years last week, will be the tour manager.”
When asked about the team’s preparation and the disruption caused by the recent wet weather, Naidu said it has made training impossible.
“Disrupted is an understatement,” Naidu said.
“It has been hard and the recent weather has made playing games all but impossible.
“We are modifying what we are doing, but we are still confident that they are getting the best preparation possible, given the Covid-19 and wet weather.”