Madang Cricket Association follows directive, suspends matches

THE Madang Cricket Association last week confirmed the suspension of its matches for the rest of the month following a directive from Cricket Papua New Guinea (CPNG) to its associations nationwide.
Association president Hubert Kundia told The National that they had suspended matches along with the finals due to the continued closure of sporting venues as per advice from the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) and CPNG. “Our remaining games for round six and the finals have been suspended or put on recess due to the fact that all sporting venues for cricket in the country should wait for clearance from PNGSF and CPNG,” he said.
“I suspended all our remaining matches until May 3 or unless I get a clearance from our provincial sports office to complete the scheduled pre-season games.”
CPNG also reminded its associations to observe the suspension with the country experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
“The extension to suspend sporting venues and facilities to May 3 is an enforcement by the Government and any breach will not only bring our game into disrepute but will be accompanied by fines and suspensions,” the sport’s national governing body said.
“CPNG has always shared information with regards to the pandemic control protocols received from PNGSF and it is now the responsibility of our member associations and non-affiliated bodies to adhere to these government directions.”
CPNG reaffirmed that there would be no domestic cricket matches until the governing body received written confirmation from PNGSF’s pandemic management committee.