PNG Under 19s Eye World Cup
PNG will be aiming to qualify for their third consecutive Under 19 Cricket World Cup when the 2011 Under 19 World Cup Qualifier begins in Ireland on Thursday local time.
With the senior team having made enormous strides over the last two years, the under 19s are also looking stronger than ever before and will aim to improve on their third place finish at the equivalent event in Canada in 2009.
PNG qualified for the event with ease through their East-Asia Pacific Regional qualifier winning every match in convincing fashion on the Sunshine Coast in February this year and one of their stars Sese Bau who made his senior debut earlier this month says their best is yet to come.
"Our form and our preparation has improved even since the EAP event on the Sunshine Coast," said Bau.
John Ovia who along with Andy Bichel will be in charge of coaching the side is pleased with the boys' preparation but admits the cold weather in Ireland will be a huge challenge for his players.
"Preparation has been really good. We train hard for a few weeks and then rest for a couple but everything is on track," said Ovia.
"It's going to be cold, but I think we have to control our players and perform according to our game plan"
"The hosts Ireland will be tough, but all of the teams are going there to win so we have to be ready for all teams that participate," Ovia continued.
Incredibly if PNG finish in the top six and qualify for the World Cup it will be the third straight Under 19 World Cup for their young all-rounder Charles Amini Jnr and he is excited by the prospect.
"It will feel pretty much the same as the other times I have made it (if we get there), I don't mean that in a bad way because every World Cup is special," he said. "Players might look up to me and ask for advice and although I can't help too much when it comes to the environment we will be playing in or the climate I hope I can assist in other ways."
Having been involved in the last two campaigns, Amini says the preparation for this time around is far superior to any other campaign he has been involved in.
"Preparations are good especially with the new facilities we have in PNG, I think everyone is enjoying what we have and taking advantage of things like the bowling machines and coming to the coaches to ask for extra practice and things like that," he said.
"Our main aim is to beat Ireland because I believe we have proven we can match it with every other side but Ireland will be tough."
As in Canada two years ago PNG will be joined at the tournament by fellow East-Asia Pacific member Vanuatu who finished second on the Sunshine Coast, and Amini expects to see improvement from their winless campaign in Canada.
"I think their (Vanuatu's) standard has increased from when we played them in Port Moresby in 2009 to when we met them this year on the Sunshine Coast so they should do better than last time."
Other teams at the tournament are Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland and the USA. The top six will join the 10 test playing nations at the Under 19 World Cup in Australia next year.