Cricket PNG (Papua New Guinea) have been provided a massive shot in the arm by Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and ICC to spread the game across all communities in the country.
In collaboration with Australia Government, a total of $800,000.00 USD will be injected through the ICC World Cup Community Facility Fund by Fund matching for all projects, which was set up in 2015. Cricket Australia ($200,000.00 USD), New Zealand Cricket ($100,000.00 USD) and ICC ($100,000.00 USD) will fund the project for the next 2 years, in which the target is to build 48 Community Cricket Facilities across PNG (namely 11 provinces).
Construction for the facilities have already started as part of the program, with the first pitches expected to be ready for use by the communities by the end of 2018.
Cricket in PNG has seen a steady growth in the past decade or so but the major challenge always remained for Cricket PNG to secure oval pitches on the grounds to provide better playing and training facilities.
In arguably the biggest Infrastructure related funding ever, the construction of the facilities will also bring about more employment opportunity for the local communities.
The ground at Amini Park was given ODI hosting accreditation by ICC but with PNG Men’s Team not having ODI status for the next 4 years, it has resulted in a setback in terms of organising International Men’s games. Cricket PNG, however, can very well host T20I matches for Women’s Cricket, following ICC’s allowance for providing T20I status to all members matches effective 01st Jul 2018.
Cricket PNG have stated that about 19,000 players in all age-groups across both Men’s and Women’s Cricket have participated in tournaments held in the country so far and plan to grow the number to beyond 20,000 with the construction of the facilities.
