Sandri steps down as national cricket coach

CRICKET Papua New Guinea (CPNG) and national men’s team head coach Carl Sandri have mutually agreed to part ways.
Sandri has been on leave from CPNG since returning from the recent T20 World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe, where the PNG Barramundis finished third.
He was not with the team during the recent Australian tour where they played in the Northern Territory Strike Top End T20 competition.
The decision by Sandri to stand down from CPNG was made due to personal and family reasons, which impacted his ability to travel constantly with the team and spend adequate time in PNG.
CPNG chairman Michael Harrison thanked Sandri for his time and efforts in leading the Barras through a difficult and unprecedented period due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) travel restrictions.
“It’s unfortunate that Covid-19 happened at the beginning of Sandri’s appointment as this severely impacted his ability to mobilise to PNG and work closely with the players,” CPNG said in a statement yesterday.
Both parties agreed that this was critical for any CPNG coach and crucial to the long-term success of the national governing body’s high-performance programme.
Although taking over as head coach at the height of Covid-19 restrictions, Sandri led the Barramundis to their inaugural Senior ICC T20 World Cup, a proud moment for PNG with many player highlights.
The Barramundis won a one-day international bilateral series in Nepal and recorded their first win in the Cricket World Cup League Two series under his stewardship.
He also coached the Under-19 national men’s team during their World Cup tour of the West Indies.
CPNG would now begin its search for a new head coach to be based in Port Moresby.