Cricket PNG and Bank South Pacific officially launched the global award-winning junior cricket development program, BSP School Kriket, for the year at Wardstrip Primary School in the nation’s capital today.
Going from strength to strength, the program now has 10 centres with over 200 schools involved and a participation of over 188,000 school children.
Since its inception in 2013, the program has not only reached over 100, 000 school children but it has produced some of PNG’s elite cricketers who are now in the national teams.
And now with highlands provinces like Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands coming on board, the program aims to maintain its reach of over 150, 000 school children nationwide.
Present at the launch today were regional cricket managers from other centres, who had their own stories to tell.
EMTV Sports spoke to Milne Bay’s Regional Cricket Manager Simon Deiwillie who said, the recent selection of the likes of Milne Bay’s Hinamutawa Philip to the National Women’s team has boosted female participation.
Meanwhile, West New Britain has seen the potential for cricket hence there is already work in place to set up an association.
At the moment, the BSP School Cricket program has been successful in reaching the outskirts of West New Britain, especially Gloucester and Bialla, with over 50 schools on board.
And the recent participation at least five West New Britain cricketers at the 7th PNG Games last year, is a testament of the program’s success in the province.
The program has won numerous ICC Global Development Awards in recent years including Best Overall Development Program and Best Junior Participation Initiative and is continuing to breed national representatives.
Current Hebou PNG Barramundis players, Nosiana Pokana, Hiri Hiri, Kipling Doriga, Dogodo Bau and Damien Ravu as well as City Pharmacy PNG Lewas players Brenda Tau and Vicky A’ra.
And the make of the U19 Garamuts team who competed last month at the ICC U19 World Cup in New Zealand, all came from the School Cricket program selections.
