East Asia – Pacific Region Prepares For Elite Squad Camp

The Pepsi International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Programme is preparing for the annual ICC EAP Elite Squad Camp to be held at the Cricket Australia (CA) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Brisbane from 17th to 29th October 2010.

Some of Australia’s very best coaches and staff members will be on hand to put the East Asia – Pacific representatives through their paces, with the ultimate goal being to represent the region at the upcoming 2011 Australian Country Cricket Championships in Bunbury in January 2011.

Week One will see Papua New Guinea well represented with several National Squad members in attendance, including pace bowler Willie Gavera and opening batsman Vani Vagi Morea, while others of note include Japanese opening batsman Masaomi “Amigo” Kobayashi and Fijian pair Joseph Rika and Maciu Gauna.

The players will be joined by current PNG Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Peter Moide, who recently coached the PNG Under 17 team to victory in the 2010 Pepsi ICC EAP U17 Cricket Trophy in Vanuatu last month.

In Week Two Vanuatu is strongly represented, with many of the National Squad members attending to help prepare for the upcoming Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 8 Tournament in Kuwait in November 2010.

Vanuatu Captain Andrew Mansale will be in attendance, along with star all-rounder Simpson Obed and wicket-keeper Trevor Langa, while youngsters Dogodo Bau (PNG), Inoke Cama (Fiji) and Tukana Tavo (Fiji) will also be travelling to Brisbane.

Vanuatu High Performance Manager Mark Coles is the selected regional coach to attend the camp, and will be a valuable member of the team overseeing all sessions.

PNG Barramundi’s wicketkeeper Jack Vare, selected to attend his first ICC EAP Elite Squad Camp, is ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

“I am looking forward to attending the 2010 ICC EAP Elite Squad Camp in October”, said Vare, who had an outstanding series for the PNG Barramundi’s when they hosted the Australian Indigenous XI earlier this year.

“For several years I have seen PNG players selected for this important camp, and each year the participants come back to Papua New Guinea with exciting stories and better cricket skills” explained Vare.

“I have dreamed of representing my country ever since I was a cricket-loving young boy growing up in my village, and to be selected to represent the East Asia – Pacific region is a wonderful honour’, said Vare.

“I always look forward to learning new things and facing new challenges, and cricket is a sport that provides great opportunity to exercise what you want to achieve not only on the field but in life as well”, said Vare.

“I want to be a role model for my community in PNG, an ambassador for cricket and hopefully represent my country for another 10 years. With Andy Bichel as National Coaching Director we have taken great strides forward recently, he is a great ambassador for the sport”, said Vare.

The EAP squads will participate in many different programmes at the CA Centre of Excellence including:

·         Fitness Education sessions
·         Centre wicket practice
·         Specific batting and bowling strategy
·         Fielding technique
·         Fitness testing
·         Several T20 and 50 over matches against the Australian Sports Gateway XI

ICC East Asia – Pacific Elite Squad Camp

Week 1 – 17th to 22nd October 2010
Week 2 – 24th to 29th October 2010