Papua New Guinea will host Hong Kong in a limited overs cricket series in Port Moresby from next week.
Assad Vala discusses tactics with coach Joe Dawes, (right). Photo: PNG Cricket
A T20 tri-series featuring the PNG Barramundis, Hong Kong and Cricket PNG Academy XI, starts on Monday with each team to play each other twice, with the top two contesting the final on Sunday October 7.
PNG and Hong Kong will then go head to head in a three match one-day series from the 9-12th of October, with all games to be played at Amini Park.
Barramundis Head Coach Joe Dawes is excited for the series and said the team is looking to build on their unbeaten during last month's World T20 East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
"After a successful Fiji trip we have been looking forward to testing ourselves against better opposition in Hong Kong," he said.
"We won our last game against them in Zimbabwe but struggled against them in Dubai last year. I see this as a good gauge to assess the work we have put in over the time since Zimbabwe.
"It is also another opportunity for our young guys in both teams to put their hand up for selection and contracts moving forward."
PNG and Hong Kong failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup at the start of the year and lost their One Day International status.
Hong Kong last toured Papua New Guinea six years ago and Joe Dawes said it was always a good contest.
"They (Hong Kong) are a good side shown by their recent performance against India in the Asia Cup," he said.
"It is a good challenge for us against their spinners and this is an area we have worked hard on. I have known Cookie (Simon Cook, Hong Kong Coach) for 15 years so it is always great to catch up and share ideas and talk about how we can work together to benefit both countries."
The Barramundis toured Hong Kong two years ago. Photo: Cricket PNG
Joe Dawes said the inclusion of an academy team is also a positive step for the development of cricket in Papua New Guinea.
"The academy is an important part of our new pathway and the more opportunities we can give our pathway players the stronger our cricket will become," he said.
"Two players are still eligible for the next Under 19 World Cup so this is a fantastic opportunity for them to learn from the senior players and take these learnings back to U19 Cricket.
