The young cricketer has been playing since he was ten years old in the local BSP School Kriket Program. Now at 17 he is excited to be part of the PIH Under 19 Cricket PNG team.
Recently completing grade 8 at Pari Primary School, Patrick was fortunate enough to balance both school and training. ‘I’d come and train on weekends but now I’ve finished my exams, so I train full time.’
And now with his full focus on the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup he is anxiously hopeful. ‘I want to perform well in the World Cup and hopefully we will win some games,’ he says.
Since joining the U19 train-on squad, the enthusiastic all-rounder says he has learnt and gained new skills, implying he has made big improvements and he has gotten better at his games.
‘I improved how to bat and bowl, and how to catch the ball. It’s very good, very interesting too.’
Outside of cricket and off the field, he is a typical teenager who enjoys anything fun – either playing or doodling on paper. ‘I like to play volleyball and other fun games. And I like to draw too,’ Patrick says with a sudden beam on his face.
One of his favourite home-cooked foods are bananas. He smiles saying that’s one of the things he’ll most definitely miss eating when away in the West Indies for his world cup tour.
The BSP School Kriket Program had given Patrick something to enjoy and keep busy a few years back, and to be able to make it as a young cricketer in the World Cup is a great blessing.
‘I want to say thank you to everyone at Cricket PNG and also a big thank you to my people of Pari village for the encouragement and support.’