Expectations are high for this squad, the first from Papua New Guinea to compete on the international stage since sweeping changes were made to the coaching, playing and administrative structure.

The country now has a full time General Manager (Bill Leane) and a full time National Coaching Director in Andy Bichel. Both men are highly respected and ultra-thorough in the way they set goals and go about achieving them.

Bichel has immediately added a new professional approach to the way the side will prepare for the Toronto qualifiers.

“The boys are ready for the challenge and our preparation could not be better. Cricket PNG is sending along a full time highly respected physio in Michael Wilson to ensure our boys are well recovered and able to perform on all of the nine (9) days of competition. We have organised pool sessions and ice baths after every game. We have even pre-booked high carb & protein meals in consultation with the chef at the hotel where they are staying so that they eat well and eat food that they are used to”.

“This event will genuinely show us exactly where we are at with our program. It will allow us to Benchmark whether our potential can match our expectation” stressed Bichel. “General Manager of Cricket PNG, Bill Leane has set us the task to finish in the top 3 in the Tournament and this will mean that every game is critical and in this type of tournament there are no easy games.”

And Bichel is right! Ireland, Hong Kong, Canada, Afghanistan, Uganda and USA are reported to have very strong squads. Netherlands performed well in the European qualifiers but may be without their two key players, Alexei Kervezee and Stijn Allema. The Vanuatu squad is brimming with talent also while Sierra Leone is a side few people know much about although to have progressed this far they must have some outstanding players.

Nevertheless, PNG, like Vanuatu, have a very large development program these days. Cricket is shown on satellite television and the game has a mainstream following in Port Moresby, throughout Central Province and along the Southern coast.

The previous under-19 team performed solidly at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, finishing twelfth, but this combination is arguably better.

The 2008 squad was strong in pace bowling but not so certain in batting. There should be no such worries this time around.

Tony Ura, one of the batting stars in Malaysia, returns for another campaign. He has scored 404 runs at 36.72 for the under-19's. Heni Siaka (375 at 34.09), Lega Tau (160 at 40.00), Vagi Oala (183 at 26.14), Jason Kila (165 at 20.62) and Charles Amini Jnr (92 at 23.00) all have convincing batting records in U/15 and U/19 internationals.

17 year old Sese Bau and late inclusion Roge Roge are also talented batsmen while John Reva and wicketkeeper Steven Eno are capable of handy runs down the order.

The bowling is lead by East Asia-Pacific quick Raymond Haoda Jnr. Reva is a very economical seamer, Kila bowls tidy slow left arm orthodox and Amini Jnr is a highly promising wrist spinner with a record of 15 wickets at 7.52 in U/15 and U/19 international tournaments. Medium pacers Toua Tom, Mea Daniel Ao and Jonathon Diho will be expected to bowl a fair number of overs as well.

PNG Squad

John Reva (Beltek) RAM/RHB
Jason Kila (Brian Bell) LHB/SLAO
Lega Tau (Beltek) RHB
Heni Siaka (Kina) RHB/RAOB
Vagi Oala (Beltek) RHB
Roge Roge (Kina) LHB
Tony Ura (Brian Bell) RHB
Sese Bau (Brian Bell) LHB
Charles Amini Jnr (Esco) RALB/RHB
Steven Eno (Beltek) WK/RHB
Mea Daniel Ao (Esco) RAM/RHB
Jonathon Diho (Kina) RAMF
Toua Tom (Brian Bell) RAM
Raymond Haoda Jnr (Kina) RAMF