Hebou Shield launched

Four teams will compete in the annual Hebou Shield, Cricket Papua New Guinea’s premier challenge featuring the country’s best male cricketers.
Forty-eight top players from Alotau, Lae, Popondetta and Port Moresby were selected to do battle in the two-week competition in preparation for the coming world T20 East Asia-Pacific qualifier in Fiji in August.
PNG Barramundis’ Assad Vala (Mariners), Charles Amini Jr (Black Bass), Norman Vanua (Mudmen) and Tony Ura (Cassowaries) will lead the four teams.
“This is really important for us going forward in preparation for the World cup qualifier in Fiji, and I would like to thank all our sponsor for supporting the competition,” Vala said.
“We have other players from other provinces involved which is good because it exposes the players to compete using the quality facilities here, and help us to prepare for Fiji.”
The teams will all play six matches each, with the top teams facing each other in the grand final on Aug 5.
The T20 format will be used for the first time during the competition.