Preparations will begin this week for 2003, the biggest year ever entered into by PNG Cricket.

Papua New Guinea Under 19 Action Photo © ICC

While ICC Regional Development Manager Matthew Kennedy is currently in Port Moresby conducting interviews for the soon to be appointed PNG Cricket Operations Manager, ICC Regional Development Officer, and PNG Cricket High Performance Coordinator Tim Anderson will be arriving in Port Moresby on Friday to commence preparations with the countries leading players and coaches.

"I have little doubt that from now until the end of 2003 represents the most important and exciting period ever seen in PNG Cricket, both domestically and internationally," said Anderson prior to arriving in Port Moresby. Activities planned during Anderson's week long stay will include the first ever Level 1 Coach Education Course to be held in PNG (August 17-18), a National U/19 Squad camp (August 19-20) and a Senior National Squad camp (August 21-22).

The following events are planned to take place in the coming 18 months:

August 2002		Preparatory Camps and Courses for players and coaches
October 2002		Domestic Season Commences
October 2002		PNG elite players and coaches visit Australian Cricket Academy
Nov./Dec. 2002	        Planned PNG Cricket Summit
January 2003		Elite player (senior and U/19) camps in PNG
March 2003		Proposed Tour by MCC to PNG (Games against Senior and U/19 National Teams) 
April 2003		PNG Cricket National Championships
May 2003		Tour by PNG to Nth. Queensland, Australia
June/July 2003	        South Pacific Games, Fiji
August 2003		ICC World Cup Qualifying Series, Malaysia
Late 2003		ICC U/19 World Cup Qualifier, Namibia

"The ICC World Cup Qualifying events, and the SP Games, are the most important tournaments PNG will have played in a long time, and it is therefore important that the players and coaches are well prepared. This is the reason for such a busy schedule," said Anderson of the planned program.

PNG National team in action Photo © ICC

Anderson will be joined by Queensland Cricket Development Manager Mark McLatchey during his upcoming visit. McLatchey, an ACB Level III Coach, will assist during the training camps, but will also meet with PNGCB administrators in the hope of establishing a cricket development partnership between Queensland Cricket and the PNGCB.

This initiative would be inline with the ICC's State/Province Partnership Program that attempts to link leading State Associations in Australia and New Zealand with developing cricket countries in the East Asia - Pacific Region.

When questioned about the upcoming events, PNGCB Secretary Wayne Satchell said, "Excitement is running high amongst players, coaches and administrators in anticipation of the numerous events that have been planned."

For any further information on the above media release, please contact:

Wayne Satchell (PNG Cricket)          325 5411
or
Tim Anderson (ICC)		      +61 3 9653 9945 (wk) 
				      +61 407 841 850 (mb)
				      tim_anderson@acb.com.au

© ICC 2002