ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup Teams & Groups

Papua New Guinea Team Profile

The side qualified for the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup after emerging victorious in the East Asia-Pacific U/19 Championship in Vanuatu in July 2007. Competing against Fiji, Vanuatu and Japan, PNG won all matches and defeated Vanuatu in the final by 104 runs to qualify.

The team which is full of promising talent will rely on captain Colin Amini, who is useful both with bat and his off-spin bowling and has already proved to be successful in the qualifying event with his leadership skills.

Pace bowlers Loa Nou and Jacob Mado are known for maintaining consistent line and length, while batsmen Tony Ura, Alfred Amini and wicket-keeper Arua Dikana are expected to bring in the runs for the team.

To keep the team in fine form for the event, manager Cheryl Amini has ensured that it has had a tough preparation programme.

He says: "We have had intensive training after the qualifier in Vanuatu; plus coaching clinics and camps with ICC East Asia Pacific Development Officers and Queensland Regional Coach. We also have our local cricket competition currently on (the season begins in October and ends in March) and practice matches with the Senior PNG Men's team. We will have a practice match with a local Malaysian team upon our early arrival in Kuala Lumpur."

The team is realistic about expectations of success at the event, but still has hopes of causing an upset.

Skipper Amini says: "We want to remain focused and be confident in our individual ability and play our best as a team. Considering that Papua New Guinea has not won any game in the previous U/19 World Cup tournaments, one win would be enough to boost the confidence of the boys. We would like to set our standards by playing against India. Our performance against them can set our benchmark on our remaining matches."

Amini sees this event as an opportunity to expose the team to international cricket. He adds: "It is the beginning of the next phase, which is the senior level. All players participating in this tournament are exposed to the highest level of cricket at U/19 while playing with the world's best. Our players have displayed high performances in preparing for this event, and must maintain this level to continue and represent their country at the more senior level."

Finally, he adds: "We expect this tournament to be a platform where we play to the best of our ability, enjoy cricket, and meet new players and people. We want to learn and experience as much as we can from all the people participating in the tournament."