Ovia optimistic about World Cup

NATIONAL men’s cricket team assistant coach John Ovia says the PNG Barramundis will perform well at the Twenty20 World Cup which will be held in Oman later this year.
“We have a very good international record in T20, our round-one pool includes Scotland and Oman who we are capable of beating, Bangladesh will be the toughest match of our group,” he said.
“I talk to the boys and they are excited.
“I have not noticed any nerves and they believe in their ability to do well.
“We have set ourselves to make the super 12 round, then we get to play the likes of Australia and England, who knows, anything is possible in T20 cricket.”
Ovia is thrilled that he will achieve his goal of participating in a World Cup. “It is an honour and a privilege to coach this team and to go to a World Cup and represent PNG,” he said.
“We have a very good group of players and coaches who have worked very hard to get here.
“We also play for all the former Barramundis, coaches and management staff who have been part of this journey since we became a member of the International Cricket Council in 1973.
“It is a huge achievement for PNG.
“Now that we are here, we must work hard to stay at the top.”
The Barramundis will depart for an extended tour on the Aug 29, culminating in the T20 World which starts in October.
It will be a longest tour that this squad has ever done.
When asked about the tour’s challenges and the sacrifices the players make, Ovia said: “It will be tough, it’s a long time away from home, but we feel the support of the community.
“My wife and family have given their blessing and the players families are the same.
“It is important that we go knowing we have their support and that of the nation.”
The Barramundis continue their preparations at Amini Park with the Isuzu Barras T20 Bash until Aug 22 after which they will then say goodbye to their families as they enter a bio-secure bubble.
This will be the start of the final leg of what was once just a boyhood dream for many of them that will suddenly become a moment etched in history of PNG as they take the field in their first World Cup match.