PNG to host international associate series

Tony Munro

International cricket will come to Papua New Guinea next week when the national team hosts Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore in the Air Niugini International Supa Series from September 1 to 5.

There will be two tournaments in one as the four teams initially play each other once in the 50-over format during the first three days before converting to Twenty20 mode on the last two days, culminating in a final.

Visiting national teams to PNG are rare - perhaps the only exception being West Indies in 1975, so numerically at least this is possibly the biggest tournament of its kind in PNG cricket history.

Hong Kong pipped Malaysia for third place at this year's ACC Trophy Elite while Singapore were controversially denied promotion from World Cricket League Division Five in February. Singapore's squad is understood to be near full strength while Hong Kong has some players absent because of club commitments in England.

Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong will meet again January when WCL Division Three is held in Hong Kong.

One-day schedule Wednesday September 1 PNG vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park Hong Kong vs Singapore 11.00am Colts Ground
Thursday September 2 PNG vs Singapore 10:30am Colts Ground Hong Kong vs Malaysia 10:30am Amini Park
Friday September 3 PNG vs Hong Kong 10:30am Amini Park Malaysia vs Singapore 10:30am Colts Ground

Twenty20 schedule Saturday September 4 Hong Kong vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park PNG vs Singapore 10.00am Colts Ground PNG vs Hong Kong 2.00pm Colts Ground Malaysia vs Singapore 2.00pm Amini Park
Sunday September 5 PNG vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park Hong Kong VS Singapore 10.00am Colts Ground Grand Final 2.00pm Amini Park