Barramundis off to World Cup

Papua New Guinea Barramundis are on their way to the biggest stage of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty-20 (T20) event after intense preparation and final squad announcement.

Led by skipper Assad Vala, the team left Port Moresby this morning as they embark on the world cup journey over the next two months

This is the second time that PNG will compete in the prominent T20 World Cup slated to commence on May 25 and finish on June 29.

Vala has taken a team full of experienced players that are determined to bolster the country into the second phase of the tournament and hopefully into the finals.

The veteran said the Barramundis are taking this golden opportunity to throw in everything they have worked hard to put the team on the world cup flight. 

“We’re grateful for this opportunity again and look forward to giving our best,” Vala told NBC News.

“Everyone that’s being called in earned his spot so I’m proud and happy with the squad we have.

 “We’re going there to win and hopefully we get the results we want.”

PNG’s world campaign will start on a tough note when they face hosts West Indies on June 2 before hunting for a first win against Uganda in the tournament. PNG and Uganda are yet to register a world cup win and the June 5 meet will determine who gets to taste victory on the world stage.  

PNG will then take on Afghanistan on June 13 before concluding the group stage with an epic battle against East Asia-Pacific heavyweights New Zealand.

The Tatenda Taibu-coached Papua New Guinea outfit entered the world cup scene in 2021 and finished in the group stages with no wins.