Recent influx of immigrants aids Vanuatu cause

The Vanuatu Cricket Association competition has been strengthened by an influx of young Pakistanis, who have arrived to undertake study at the newly formed Business Institute of Victoria in Port Vila.

They will be scattered throughout the eight existing teams, before forming their own side in 2000.

The competition proper will commence on April 10. The teams contested a seven-a-side competition last weekend. VCA president, Mark Stafford, has provided this assessment of each team's chances:

"The reigning premiers are Sportzpower who are renowned for emptying their esky by stumps on most match days. They are sponsored by a local sports store and should be a solid unit in 1999. Their leading player is Rodd Day, who made 900 runs at 90 in 1998 and took 30 plus wickets.

Malapoa College have snared Patrick Haines from the Paama Sharks in the off-season. Patrick is the quickest bowler in the country and combined with the team's youth and enthusiasm could see the College making a big challenge in '99. TAFEA is also a youthful side with a lot of inexperienced players who possess a good deal of raw talent. If their captain, Graham Nimoho, can get them on the field each week they could be a surprise packet.

The Ifira team hails from an island at the entrance of Port Vila harbour who have been fielding cricket teams since at least the 1930's. They are headed by the hard-hitting Bakoa Kaltongga and the evergreen all-rounder McGlory Kalsakau who late last season was experimenting with a reverse sweep and switching from right to left handed batting in the middle of his innings (with mixed results). Outsiders only.

Vanda Steelers (previously Vila Refrigeration) have a new sponsor, new name, new captain (Doug Hutchison) but unfortunately no new talent and look like they will once again be watching the finals from the prime vantage point of the Independence Park grandstand.

Paama Sharks will be severely weakened by the loss of Haines and the recently departed bible translator, Dave Nichols. Unless Gary Blake can direct his fire at the batsmen at the crease, Sharks will struggle.

The FedEx North Efate Bushpigs have recruited a number of unknown quantities in the rainy season. If Hurley and George Adams can get a few good starts and Stafford batting at no. three can again be not out in every second or third dig they could make a bold showing. However with an average age of 43 their (lack of) pace in the field may count against them. Expect Clelland and Jara to make it difficult for any batting team.

The Mele Bulls who are from Vanuatu's largest village, some 10 kilometres from the capital boast the Chillia brothers, Ravé, who has a copyright on his one handed sweep for six, and, bowls with a similar action to a certain Sri Lankan, and, Pierre, a very stylish all-rounder and national captain. If they can fire then all teams will be in trouble.

My tip for the finals is that any team could be in them because any one of the Pakistanis could be the next Imran Khan and I would not like to bet on their performances even if some bookie, who only has the interests of cricket at heart, offered me 1,000,000 Vatu. The only certainty is that the pitches will always be as hard as concrete and it might rain."