“We want to be performing on the world stage against the big boys in the next five years”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Papua New Guinea are set to make their ODI debut when they play two matches against Hong Kong in Townsville on November 8 and 9.

Both sides will also play a three-day match at the same venue from November 11 to 13.

Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea were both given ODI status this year after they finished fifth and sixth at the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand.

“We want to be performing on the world stage against the big boys in the next five years and regular, quality international cricket is critical to achieving this aim,” Papua New Guinea head coach Dipak Patel said. “As our first official ODI matches, the Digicel ODI series is the starting point of the next phase in Cricket PNG’s evolution.”

Sean Cary, who is Cricket Australia’s Senior Manager of Cricket Operations, added: “Cricket Australia has been pleased to support the process of the stadium’s accreditation as an ICC-approved venue, because we want more venues around the country to have the capacity to host international cricket. We were impressed with the facilities during the recent series between Australia A and South Africa A, and see a bright future for the stadium.”