Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
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- 26 May 2011
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The four visiting teams have arrived in Port Moresby and completed their final training sessions at the impressive facilities on offer at Cricket PNG's Amini Park and Colts Cricket Ground.
Japan were the final team to arrive in the early hours of Sunday morning and wasted no time heading down to the grounds for an early morning nets and fielding session.
Japanese coach Chris Ferguson is optimistic heading into their first match against Fiji.
"We've brought a few new faces into the side to get a bit more stability into the top order and to bring in some new ideas so things are looking good," said Ferguson.
The youthful Vanuatu players put on an impressive fielding display in their final training session and coach Mark Coles believes that despite his chargers being young in age they make up for it in experience at international and club level.
"I think whilst we have a young team we have people like Andrew (Mansale), Eddie Mansale and young Patrick (Matautaava) who have played a lot of EAP cricket," said Coles. "So whilst they are young in years you look at Andrew who has been tied up in EAP tournaments since he was about 16 so they bring a lot of experience as well."
Imran Kahn who has returned to the Fiji side after a few years abroad is thrilled to be back training with his country and is impressed with the new players who have come into the squad since his absence.
"They're quite good, I actually feel like one of the old guys now as these guys are getting younger and younger," said Kahn. "They put in a lot of work in refining their skills which is good to see."
Well aware of the step up in standard from the Division 2 tournament that Samoa won in April, Samoan captain Geoff Clarke says his side is enjoying the underdog tag and are keen to cause more than a few upsets against the associate member countries.
"It's a good thing going into a tournament as an underdog as there is only one way to go and that's up," said Clarke. "That's the way we are looking at this, we are here to compete and we are here to win."
Despite being considered by many as unbeatable on home soil, PNG captain Rarua Dikana says his side are preparing exactly as they would for any other tournament and will take no team lightly.
"We are well aware of the hard work the other countries have put in to be here so we won't be relaxed at any stage," he said. "We want to set a good standard for our fellow regional members."
All five teams enjoyed a dinner hosted by the Chairman of Cricket PNG Mick Nades on the eve of the first matches that begin tomorrow at 10:15am local time after the official opening ceremony.
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16150_1309700280
Japan were the final team to arrive in the early hours of Sunday morning and wasted no time heading down to the grounds for an early morning nets and fielding session.
Japanese coach Chris Ferguson is optimistic heading into their first match against Fiji.
"We've brought a few new faces into the side to get a bit more stability into the top order and to bring in some new ideas so things are looking good," said Ferguson.
The youthful Vanuatu players put on an impressive fielding display in their final training session and coach Mark Coles believes that despite his chargers being young in age they make up for it in experience at international and club level.
"I think whilst we have a young team we have people like Andrew (Mansale), Eddie Mansale and young Patrick (Matautaava) who have played a lot of EAP cricket," said Coles. "So whilst they are young in years you look at Andrew who has been tied up in EAP tournaments since he was about 16 so they bring a lot of experience as well."
Imran Kahn who has returned to the Fiji side after a few years abroad is thrilled to be back training with his country and is impressed with the new players who have come into the squad since his absence.
"They're quite good, I actually feel like one of the old guys now as these guys are getting younger and younger," said Kahn. "They put in a lot of work in refining their skills which is good to see."
Well aware of the step up in standard from the Division 2 tournament that Samoa won in April, Samoan captain Geoff Clarke says his side is enjoying the underdog tag and are keen to cause more than a few upsets against the associate member countries.
"It's a good thing going into a tournament as an underdog as there is only one way to go and that's up," said Clarke. "That's the way we are looking at this, we are here to compete and we are here to win."
Despite being considered by many as unbeatable on home soil, PNG captain Rarua Dikana says his side are preparing exactly as they would for any other tournament and will take no team lightly.
"We are well aware of the hard work the other countries have put in to be here so we won't be relaxed at any stage," he said. "We want to set a good standard for our fellow regional members."
All five teams enjoyed a dinner hosted by the Chairman of Cricket PNG Mick Nades on the eve of the first matches that begin tomorrow at 10:15am local time after the official opening ceremony.
http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=16150_1309700280
