PNG rising stars head to Australia

Two of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) most promising young players have been awarded a six-month scholarship with the Wanderers club in Townsville, Queensland.

Assad Vala, a 20-year-old batsman, and 19-year-old pace bowler Loa Nou have been rewarded for their outstanding recent performances at both domestic and international level, and will spend the Australian summer testing their skills against the best players in Townsville.

The initiative, a partnership between the Wanderer’s CC, PNG Cricket and the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Development Program, will also see both players learn about club administration, turf wicket preparation and the coordination of junior development programs.

“This is a great opportunity for two of our young players to experience Australian culture and quality club cricket,” said PNG Cricket's chairman Mick Nades. “We thank the Wanderers for their support of PNG Cricket and hope that this is the beginning of a long relationship.”

The Wanderers CC has produced current Australian players Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson. The club's president Peter Wiltshire said: “Having hosted the PNG National Team during their Townsville tour in May we saw the potential and thought we had something to offer their young players.”