Sri Lankan Cricket Spin legend to tour PNG

World cricket super star spin bowler Muntiah Muralitharan  or "Murali" of Sri Lanka will be one of about 6 overseas Cricket stars to arrive in Port Moresby next month. Chairman of Cricket PNG, Mr Mick Nades and the MD for Pacific MMI, Mr Wayne Dorgan announced that Murali; Brad Hogg (Australia); Craig McDermott (Australia); Adam Hollioake (England); Michael DiVenuto (Australia) and Andy Bichel (Australia) will participate in the "Don't Drink and Drive" event which is co-sponsored by Pacific MMI and the Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL).

The event comprises T/20 games featuring the 6 cricket legends placed in local PNG Teams as part of coaching and mentoring of emerging PNG talent to improve their level of play.

On December 1, the players will host a series of school and village-based clinics before taking centre-stage at a fund-raising dinner at the Lamana hotel in Port Moresby.

The CEO of Cricket PNG, Mr Bill Leane expects the "Don't Drink and Drive" matches to be a real crowd-pleasers and added that the event would one of the most stunning sporting moments in Cricket PNG's history.

Cricketers head to overseas clubs

When businessman and philanthropist Sir Brian Bell passed away recently, many remembered him as having left a significant legacy. And so he has. One example is the announcement made this week that 14 young PNG cricketers will have places in Australian cricket clubs - thanks due mainly to the Brian Bell Future Star Scholarship 2010-2011.

The selected players are :- Rarua Dikana (Bentleigh Club - Melbourne), Kila Pala (Airport West Club - Melbourne), Loa Nou (Box Hill Club - Melbourne), Jason Kila (Box Hill & Coles Sharks - Melbourne, Pipi Raho (Dhoutta Stars - Melbourne) Mahuru Dai (Broadmeadows - Melbourne), Sese Bau (Bentleigh - Melbourne), Tony Ura (Broadmeadows - Melbourne), Hitolo Areni (Broadmeadows - Melbourne), Lega Siaka (Dhoutta Stars & Coles Sharks - Melbourne), Raymond Haoda (Norths Club - Brisbane), Asad Vala (Ginniderra Club - ACT), Jack Vare ( Ginniderra Club - ACT) and Norma Ovasuru (TBC Club - Tasmania).

The Brian Bell Future Stars scholarship program is designed to select Papua New Guinean cricketers with great potential who will benefit from exposure to elite competition and coaching  in another country.

Cricket & AFL in PNG reaching for greater heights

A couple of weeks ago I attended the opening of the new turf at the Amini Park by the Australian cricket legend, Doug Walters. The event was the highlight of a three-day cricket match between a visiting Australian Indigenous Team and the PNG Barramundi Team.

I was at the clubhouse from 11.30pm to about 5.30pm and thoroughly enjoyed the 20/20 game between the young indigenous Australians who are coached by former Australian International, Craig McDermot; and the Barramundi Team. As a die-hard cricket fan I am certainly looking forward to seeing more matches at Amini Park.