Newcomers Boost Cricket Tournament

The participation of two new women teams has boosted the inaugural women’s cricket week long tournament at Albert Park, Suva.

Newcomers Tailevu North and Komo have expanded the number of partici­pating teams to 10.

Cricket Fiji acting chief executive Sitiveni Rokoro yesterday said a national training squad will be selected for the Pacific Cup in Vanuatu in September by the end of the tour­nament.

“This is the first time for us to such to have a tournament. This would not have been pos­sible had it not being for the support of the New Zealand’s Ministry of foreign affairs and trade,” Rokoro said.

“They are sponsoring this tourna­ment as part of their Pacific leveraging and legacy funding, linking up to the ICC Women’s World Cup that was com­pleted on Sunday in New Zealand,” he said.

“So it was through that support we were able to hold this tournament.

“New teams from Tailevu North and Komo are joining the renowned Suva, Ono-i-Lau, Serua, Moce, Rotuma and Nadi women cricket sides.

“The national training squad for the Pacific Cup will be named after this tournament.

Selection

Cricket Fiji board member and na­tional selector, Akuila Nawai says cricket in Fiji is still developing.

He indicated COVID-19 has disrupted competition the past two years.

“Selectors are out looking for poten­tial batters for the Pacific Cup,” Nawai said.

“We have players who are capable, mainly we are looking at the basics of batting – it’s rather difficult.

“You can just pick anybody for bowl­ing – pick anybody today, teach her how to bowl and she can bowl tomorrow.

“Batting is a different game; it has to go with basics and consistency that’s why we are looking at those who can play modern cricket. It has changed over the years.”

The tournament ends on Friday.

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