Vanuatu withdraw from Crompton Cup

Fiji cricket's biggest event, the Crompton Cup, has received a setback due to the withdrawal of the Vanuatu national team. The withdrawal came after several Vanuatuan players were unable to take sufficient time off work.

Meanwhile, Lautoka, Nadi and Melbourne first grade team, Gigarre Gorillas, remain favourites for the event, which begins tomorrow.

A combined Lautoka-Nadi team recently beat a Suva-Moce side in a match viewed as an accurate guide to the respective teams' Crompton Cup chances. Tonga and Vanuabalau side Heilala, are the unknown quantities, both returning to the event after long absences.

The other team, Labasa, is viewed as still being in the rebuilding stage.

The pools are:
Pool A - Moce, Gigarre Gorillas, Nadi, Labasa
Pool B - Suva, Tonga, Heilala, Lautoka
Pool matches are contested over 30 overs with the final a 50-over-a-side affair.