T20 World Cup to tour PNG

The National Sports

By PATRICIA KEAMO
CRICKET Papua New Guinea (CPNG) will host the International Cricket Council Twenty-20 (T20) World Cup tour for three days with the trophy scheduled to arrive in Port Moresby on Sunday.
This will be the first time for the trophy to visit PNG, making the country the 20th cricket-playing nation selected to host the trophy out of the council’s 109 member associations.
The tour will include a trip to Fisherman Island outside Port Moresby on Monday, cricket matches, various receptions as well as photoshoots at the Parliament House and the iconic Apec Haus.
“It will be the first time for the T20 trophy to visit PNG, but the second time for such an event following the one-day International trophy’s 2015 visit,” the sport’s national governing body told The National.
“This has made CPNG one of the well-ranked countries in world cricket.
“The tour is similar in importance to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games torch relay as it recognises and celebrates the highest competition.
“It recognises a high-ranking event in the world where the best of the best meet – in our case, PNG cricketers will play the best cricketers in world.
“The Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis are ranked 19 out of 109 countries.
“They qualified in 2019 for their maiden T20 World Cup appearance last year.”
The Barramundis are vying for a place in next year’s T20 World Cup which will be hosted by Australia.
Monday’s programme will see a boat tour to Fisherman Island before an evening reception with delegates.
On Tuesday, the trophy will be taken to the home of cricket, Amini Park, where an Under-13 cricket tournament will be played, replicating teams competing in the World Cup.
A photoshoot at the Parliament House and Apec Haus as well as the end of the tournament will round out the PNG leg of the tour.
“The tour provides new dimensions to the sport, bringing in new opportunities for the youngest to the oldest cricketer, both male and female, to aim for greater heights in their chosen sport,” CPNG said.
“CPNG now has four international teams competing in World Class events, the men’s and women’s national teams as well as the Under-19 men’s and women’s sides.
“Cricket is a high-achieving sport nationally.
“It is now making inroads at the global level.”