CPNG ANNOUNCES GARAMUTS SQUAD FOR BRISBANE TOUR

The Cricket PNG selectors have announced the 18-Player Garamuts Squad for the Tour to Brisbane in March, supported by the Australian Government.

The Papua New Guinea U19 Garmut’s have been stepping up their training efforts in the final weeks of preparation for an important international tour in Brisbane and the coming ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Division 1 Qualifier in Japan.

The tour to Brisbane is made possible thanks to the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports partnership with Cricket Australia, which supports high-performance cricket across the Pacific and strengthens people-to-people connections in the region.

This includes providing access to high-level competitions for talented players like the Garamuts.

Captain of the Garamuts Team, Gaba Frank expressed confidence in the team’s progress, highlighting a significant improvement in their training standards compared to previous years.

“The players have stepped up with more commitment and effort in training, focusing on skill-building.

Compared to previous years, our training has improved, and even our coach has been up to date with us,” Frank said.

Frank, a right-arm leg spinner and left-hand batsman, is leading the Garamuts for the second time and is eager to take on the challenge.

“Last year I was nervous, but this year I am confident. Seeing the team working hard and smart, with Coach Kila Pala always cheering us on, I know we are ready.

I am ready to captain our Garamuts team to Australia and later to Japan for the EAP Qualifiers,” he added.

Coach Kila Pala provided insights into the team’s structured training program, which includes separate sessions for students and non-students in preparation for the Brisbane trip and lead up to EAP Qualifiers in Japan.

“We are now in our fourth week of training, preparing for the Brisbane tour.

Morning sessions are for non-students, while students train in the afternoons.

Our schedule includes turf training on Wednesdays, center wicket sessions on Thursdays, light training on Fridays, and full 50-over matches on weekends.”

The initial 24-member training squad has now been trimmed by the Cricket PNG Selectors to 18 players for their preparation tour to Brisbane from 14 to 24 March.

With Gaba Frank as captain and Dauncy Tom as vice-captain, the selectors have retained the same Garamuts leadership from the successful ICC East Asia-Pacific Division 2 Qualifier in August 2024.

With the support of Queensland Cricket through the recently signed MOU with Cricket PNG, the tour will include a minimum of four matches against select Queensland Cricket teams, to be played at top grade club grounds around Brisbane.

Cricket PNG CEO, Richard Done shared his gratitude for the Australian Government.

“Our thanks go to the Australian government for supporting the Cricket PNG U19 Garamuts’ Brisbane tour through the PacificAus Sports partnership with Cricket Australia.

The Australian Government’s continued contribution to cricket in PNG is hugely appreciated and we are looking forward to testing ourselves in Brisbane in preparation for the Qualifiers in Japan.”

The tour will allow the Garamuts Coach, Kila Pala, and PNG Youth Selector, Hudson Leka, to see the players under competitive match situations, before selecting the final Garamuts Team for the EAP Division 1 Qualifier by the ICC deadline of 25 March.

The selected Garamuts Squad for Brisbane includes the 14 standout players from last year’s Division 2 Qualifier.

GARAMUT 18 MEN TEAM LIST WITH PLAYER ROLES

The selectors also named three non-travelling reserves, William Frank, Miria Griffin, and Nou Geita in case replacements are required.