More sponsorship flows into cricket from Water PNG

 CRICKET, as the best run sport in the country, now has garnered significant  backing from Water PNG, after the major water supplier announced a two-year sponsorship and partnership with Cricket PNG worth K60,000 last Thursday in Lae.

The announcement was made last Thursday night at its cocktail reception at the Lae International Hotel,by the Water PNG board and management team which were in Lae last week headed by chairman Bill Sweet, his deputy Peter Pokawin and managing director Patrick Amini.

Cricket PNG chairman Mick Nades and national cricket captain Rarua Dikana were on hand to welcome the announcement of the commitment witnessed by members of the Lae business community.

Water PNG through this partnership now extends its commitment and progress into the different communities, especially in the outer provinces, where individuals and the young generations can be developed under management of cricket in PNG.

Nades in his acceptance speech thanked Water PNG and announced the aim of Cricket PNG to develop the officiating level of the game’s umpires 

He said it was an important area to develop.

He said getting more local umpires to improve  their umpiring and getting exposure in regional and international matches was vital to the growth of the code at a professional level in the country.

Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI) president Allan McLay was happy with the sponsorship and commended the direction by Cricket PNG to target  umpires’ development.

McLay said sports had been a great tool in discouraging the nation’s youth from engaging in  social ills. 

He predicted that this partnership between Water PNG and Cricket PNG would contribute effectively to this positive social challenge.

“I am proud to say that cricket is the best run game in the country,” Nades said. 

Like captain Dikana, he expressed faith in this current national team’s performance in the East Asia Pacific Twenty20 championship, which is the team’s first stepping stone to the ultimate T20 World Cup challenge next year in the Carribean.

Both expected strong challenges from Vanuatu and Fiji in the tournament, and are keeping a close watch on their own preparations and progress towards this regional fixture.