Toowoomba clubs get an International flavour

Cricketers from countries across East Asia - Pacific (EAP) will get an Australian club cricket experience this weekend when clubs in the Toowoomba Cricket Association host players from Japan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and Cook Islands in their Saturday Grade competition.

The initiative, organised by Toowoomba Cricket in conjunction with the ICC EAP Development Program and Queensland Cricket, will see nine players from EAP selected in five teams for the first day of Round 5 in Toowoomba's Grade competition on Saturday 12 November.

EAP will also take on the Toowoomba representative team at Heritage Oval in Toowoomba on Sunday 13 November with players participating over the two days selected from the 22-man EAP Squad currently attending the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) in Brisbane.

"This program is a fantastic initiative providing an opportunity for cricketers from developing nations to receive an Australian club cricket experience whilst attending the Camp" commented ICC EAP Development Officer Martin Gleeson. "The players will play alongside and against Toowoomba Grade cricketers and the cultural and cricket exchange will no doubt transcend the boundaries of the sport."

The players will arrive in Toowoomba from Brisbane on Saturday morning before linking up with their new team mates prior to the 1pm start of play.

"The clubs involved in the program are thrilled to be a part of it," offered Regional Cricket Manager Andrew Selff. "This is a great way for Toowoomba Cricket to assist in the development of cricket in other countries and I'm sure our players will learn a lot from these international players as well as being able to help them develop their match play skills. It will be exciting to see if some of them can do well in our competitive club cricket."

The EAP Squad Camp at the CBCE brings together the most talented cricketers from across the region and involves intensive coaching, training and skill development under the tutelage of some of Australia's leading coaches. One-day matches against Toowoomba and Queensland U19 and a two-day fixture against Queensland U19 will also provide valuable match practise during the two week Camp.

At the end of the Camp, a 14-member team will be chosen to represent the EAP region at the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) to be staged in Mandurah, Western Australia in January.

"The ACCC involves the best country cricketers from around Australia" continued Mr Gleeson "The standard is akin to the leading Associate countries and the experience the players will gain from this weekend, the Camp in general and the tournament will really contribute to their personal development, and thus assist in the development of cricket in their respective countries."

The Toowoomba clubs involved in the initiative are:

Metropolitan East Cricket Club
Souths Magpies Cricket Club
Railways Cricket Club
Northern Brother Diggers Cricket Club

The 2005 EAP Squad is:

Munir Ahmad (Japan), Hitolo Areni (PNG), Jamie Brazier (PNG), Chris Brown (Cook Islands), Tetsuro Chino (Japan), Mahuru Dai (PNG), Rarua Dikana (PNG), Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands), Toka Gaudi (PNG), Patrick Giles-Jones (Japan), Gimapau Keimelo (PNG), Imran Khan (Fiji), Tikoivanualevu Kida (Fiji), Masaomi Kobayashi (Japan), Simione Latu (Tonga), Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu), Neil Maxwell (Fiji), Ipi Morea (PNG), John Ovia (PNG), Chad Paull (Indonesia), Kitiano Tavo (Fiji), Arua Uda (PNG), Assad Vala (PNG).