PNG cricket needs turf pitch

Normal, Sports

CRICKET Papua New Guinea general manager Bill Leane has stressed the need to establish a turf pitch in PNG to build up players to the standard of the top teams in the world.
“The progress of PNG in world cricket will continue to be slow until we have turf wickets in PNG,” Leane said after the Garamuts’disappointing performance in the International Cricket Council’s Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand.
“We are now appealing to all of our sponsors and corporate partners to make a pledge to help PNG cricket fund the facilities that are needed for us to become an elite cricket nation.
“I am hopeful of building the wickets and practise facilities that the other countries enjoy so that this problem can be addressed soon but again we need some ICC help to allow PNG the opportunity to reach its potential,” Leane said.
“To be faced with the conditions we encountered on Tuesday was like giving Bangladesh two extra players and a massive advantage”.
PNG’s national coach, Andy Bichel, said that the Bangladesh boys were really in their element but there were lots of things learnt.
“We can look forward to playing well against Canada today.”
Leane said nothing could be taken away from their performance.
“After the gut-wrenching loss they had to beat Pakistan and we knew they would come really hard at us.
“They are a top six side and if the draw had been kinder to them they would be playing in Christchurch and not in Palmerston North.”