CRICKET PNG Chief Executive Officer Richard Done is pleased to lead his team of administrators to expand cricket competitions in the country.
Done, along with Domestic Cricket Manager Lakani Oala and Talent Identification Manager Rodney Maha, travelled to Lae and Alotau to meet with local associations to develop cricket in the communities.
They visited existing and past cricket facilities as a key part of Cricket PNG’s 2024 plans to revive grounds to cater for expanding junior and senior competitions.
BSP School Kriket will transition into the Malolo (Hard Ball) competition for Under-15 and Under-17 female and male teenagers.
Senior cricket will include the introduction of the regional and national championships.
“Cricket PNG’s introduction of regional competitions will enable players who perform at each level to be selected for higher honours, including playing in the national championships,” Lakani Oala said.
He said creating a clear pathway for talented players provides the best way for CPNG to identify the best players for the future.
Rodney Maha also ran a talent identification day that saw over 50 female and male participants aged 14-16 come together at the Lae Uni-Tech Cricket Oval.
Done was impressed with the talent on show from different schools, who were introduced to cricket through the BSP School Kriket programme and from participation in the Lae Cricket Association competitions.
There was a great response from parents who attended and local clubs were represented with three coaches who assisted in running the session.
With the planned increase in Cricket PNG competitions in 2024, Oala urged cricketers to take part in the ICC training and education opportunities by enrolling for various ICC online and CPNG-run courses, including the ICC Coaching Level 1, ICC Umpiring Level 1, and CPNG online scoring.
There are great opportunities for coaches, umpires and scorers to study online at their leisure which should take up to a fortnight before an easement, as Cricket PNG now has tutors and coaches accredited by the ICC who can assess the new applicants, after they complete the online registration.
Meetings were held with the Cricket Associations in Lae and Milne Bay, and Cricket PNG Board Member and Associate Representative, Robin Dogia, joined the team to travel to Alotau and inspected grounds in Gili Gili, Magisubu and Waigani Estates, amongst others.
The group were impressed with the number of grounds in the Province, with cricket pitches present in almost all villages.
The game has a rich history in Milne May, and CPNG’s aim to revitalize pitches and start new competitions, as the Missionaries had done when they arrived in the 1800’s in Milne Bay and Central Province.
Main cricket hubs, such as Milne Bay are important to provide a focus for the local game and Lae with CPNG’s second largest competition will also allow a strong connection to the Highlands.
Moreover, the visit continues today (Thursday) where CPNG team are off to Hula in the Central Province to do the same as they have done in Lae and Alotau, and will meet with Central Cricket Associations and the Central Regional Development Managers.
