CRICKET
THE Kumul Petroleum sponsored PNG Barramundis have arrived in Oman’s capital Muscat in preparation for the Cricket World Cup in October.
This will be the first World Cup appearance for Baramundis and it is a historical one for the country.
The Shangra-La Hotel in Muscat is hosting the squad until the next leg of the tour where they will travel to the United Arab Emirates.
The PNG Barramundis will begin the International Tour in a one match against Nepal and the USA ON September 4, 2021. Due to the heat condition in Oman which Barramundis will be adopting to the fixtures will be on a day/night scheduled. There are 16 games in total in the lead up to the World Cup event against seven nations. Five of the seven nations will be competing in the ICC T20 World Cup. These games will be a mixture of one day internationals and T20’s, with particular interest in our Cricket World Cup League. PNG Barramundis will play Oman and Scotland as first-round opponents in the World Cup.
With the Covid-19 protocols in place the team went into quarantine in Port Moresby five days before the first flight until they return in approximately three months. While in Oman the team and the management will have PCR test at least every five days to continually provide assurance that none of the team member is infected with the virus.
Moreover with the Covid restriction some of the team members are keen to meet the Head Coach Carl Sandri and other support staff who have been in contact with the players online. Now the team is complete and the players are having a good time bonding with the officials and already into their training in preparations.
It will be far from home but the PNG boys will need the home support to keep them in this historical Cricket World Cup Competition.
In this column, 16games playing by PNG against 7nations. Please indicate the schedule of those matches.