10 Aug 2012

Sport: PNG banking on local knowledge

10:19 am on 10 August 2012

Papua New Guinea will be clear underdogs at the Under 19 Cricket World Cup, which gets underway on Saturday but are hoping some local knowledge will work in their favour.

The Pacific giants are the lowest ranked nation in their group at 15th in the world and begin their campaign against Zimbabwe in Townsville.

PNG will also face the West Indies and India in pool play and captain Chris Kent says if they're to be competitive they'll need every player to pull their weight.

He says many of the players have spent considerable time in Australia playing on scholarships, which will hopefully pay off.

"It's kind of like our second home. A lot of boys have links developed here in Queensland and hopefully we will have a bit of support up in Townsville - most people have auntys, uncles. Definately the culture down here is not a shock to us so it's kind of all going for us."

Chris Kent says the Zimbabwe game is their best shot at a victory in the pool stages but his main aim is to ensure PNG end the tournament as the leading affiliate and associate nation.