Greg Campbell

PNG Barramundis

The PNG Barramundis are currently in full training for the ICC T20 World Cup East-Asia-Pacific (EAP) Final which will take place in Port Moresby from 18-25th March. The three-team competition will also feature Vanuatu and the Philippines with the winner to advance to the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in late 2019.

During the announcement today, PNG Air sales and marketing manager, Linda Honey, said it was important for the airline to engage and help grow athletes within the country.

The announcement was made at the PNG Air head office at Seven-Mile, Port Moresby, where Honey said the airline will be transporting athletes from the outside provinces to Port Moresby, and vice versa.

She said they anticipate moving around 200,000 young adults to engage and grow in the sport of cricket.

In terms of the payment of airfares, Honey stated it would predominantly be free-of-charge.

This followed a recent inspection of the facilities at the venue.

This means Amini Park can stage international matches between Associate and Affiliate Members.

Amini Park was given the nod after the irrigation, field of play, change rooms, umpires’ rooms, media and officials’ rooms were upgraded.

CEO of Cricket PNG, Greg Campbell, was delighted at the news.

“This is a historic moment for CPNG and the East Asia Pacific for the ICC to grant international status to the home of cricket in PNG.

History was made this year when ICC Intercontinental Cup (ICUP) and ICC World Cricket League (WCL) matches were played this year at Amini Park, Port Moresby.

Chief Executive Officer for CPNG, Greg Campbell said this was a milestone for CPNG.

“This was one of our highlights for the year, being able to successfully host ICUP and WCL matches in Port Moresby.

“Next year we will not only be hosting these matches, but we will be hosting official One Day International (ODI) matches.

CPNG will be hosting Namibia in the round 4 ICC Intercontinental Cup (ICUP) and World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches at Amini Park.

The ICUP is a four day match that starts this Sunday. It will run from October 16-19.

“This will be CPNG’s first ever first-class 4-Day fixture in PNG,” said Campbell.

 “Unfortunately we had to move our ICUP round 3 home fixture against Ireland to Townsville earlier in the year after the facilities were not ready to host such a fixture in PNG.

In a major boost for Cricket PNG, the Hebou PNG Barramundis will take on Tasmania tomorrow, Western Australia on Friday and Queensland next Monday over the space of a week in 50 over matches at the Maroochydore Cricket Ground on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. 

Cricket PNG CEO Greg Campbell said this is a wonderful opportunity for our Hebou PNG Barramundis to play against some of the best elite cricketers from an ICC Full-Member Country (Australia).