The rivalry between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu is well-known among the people, who have kept a tab on their meetings over the years including the matches in the Pacific Games. Come Mar 2019, a new chapter will be written in the rivalry, when both the countries meet each other in their first official T20I status game in men’s senior ranks in the ICC East Asia-Pacific Regional finals, which is the pathway towards qualification for Global Qualifiers for 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
Both PNG and Vanuatu will be joined by Philippines in the regional finals, to be hosted by Cricket PNG at Amini Park ground in Port Moresby from Mar 20th – 23rd, 2019. Each team will play the others in a double round-robin group phase with the top team at the end of the tournament to advance to the global qualifiers. Vanuatu and Philippines will be making their debut’s in the T20I format, as all matches will carry points towards the ICC Global T20I Men’s Team rankings, due to be released during the 2nd quarter of 2019.
With 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa also set to feature Cricket as a medal discipline in both men’s and women’s categories, PNG and Vanuatu will take this opportunity to get some game-time in the middle to prepare for the games as well, where the matches are eligible for official T20I status as well.
PNG Squad for ICC EAP Regional Finals:
Assad Vala (Captain), Charles Amini Jr, Lega Siaka, Jason Kila, Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Kipling Doriga, John Reva, Nosaina Pokana, Damien Ravu, Chad Soper, Norman Vanua, Anthony Vare & Simon Atai
Vanuatu Squad for ICC EAP Regional Finals:
Andrew Mansale (Captain), Jonathon Dunn, Patrick Matautaava, Jelany Chilia, Nalin Nipiko, Gilmour Kaltongga, Joshua Rasu, Clement Tommy, Ronald Tari, Wesley Viraliliu, Williamsing Nalisa, Simpson Obed, Callum Blake & Jamal Vira
ICC East Asia-Pacific Regional Final Qualifiers Schedule (All timings local):
Date | Match | Venue | Time |
20 March 2019 | Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 9:30AM |
Philippines vs Papua New Guinea | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 1:30PM | |
21 March 2019 | Vanuatu vs Philippines | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 9:30AM |
22 March 2019 | Philippines vs Papua New Guinea | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 1:30PM |
23 March 2019 | Vanuatu vs Philippines | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 9:30AM |
Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu | Amini Park, Port Moresby | 1:30PM |