The 2009 Pepsi ICC EAP U15 Cricket 8s Trophy is looking like being one of the most even EAP
junior tournaments in recent memory, with seven teams fighting it out to be crowned champion at the
Under 15 level.
PNG are again favourites after having a comfortable win in the previous EAP U15 Tournament, but
will face stiff competition from several other participants who continue to develop quickly at the grassroots
level.
All eyes will be on the Digicel U15 Vanuatu team who were relegated to 2nd place in Samoa two years
ago, and under the watchful eye of Coach Pierre Chilia and with talents such as Captain Callum Blake
in the side, they will no doubt be formidable opponents.
Indonesia, having taken out the previous two Global Development Awards for Best Junior Cricket
Initiative for their implementation of the Ultramilk Under 15 Cricket Development Program, will have
high expectations. The program has included more than 20,000 Indonesian children over the past 12
months and will certainly ensure that Indonesia have a strong team in place.
Fiji, Samoa, Japan and Tonga will also be looking to improve significantly on their placings from the
2007 tournament, with all of these Member Countries now having successful and established Under 15
domestic competitions.
The 2009 Pepsi ICC EAP U15 Cricket 8s Trophy is being hosted by Cricket Indonesia in Jakarta from
the 14th to 18th July 2009 at Cicibur, Karawachi, Karawang and Indorama.
The matches will be 20 overs per side, with several rule alterations to promote all players getting a
chance to participate in each match. This includes the requirement for all teams to nominate 4 batsmen
and 4 bowlers prior to each match, with rules in place enforcing that nominated batsmen must bat at the
top of the order and nominated bowlers bowl first. In addition to this, every run scored forward of the
crease at the non-strikers end will be awarded double runs, to promote the use of correct technical
cricket shots.
With seven teams participating, a bye is required once for all teams, however during this space in the
fixture all teams except Japan will be playing a friendly match against an Indonesian Invitational squad
selected from the Ultramilk Under 15 Cricket Development Program.