Vanuatu Cricket Announces Team for South Africa

THE Vanuatu Men’s National cricket team has been selected for their upcoming tour to South Africa.

The team will be competing in the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 tournament starting on September 3. This is the second time in two years Vanuatu has qualified for the tournament and last year Vanuatu finished fourth.

The tournament consists of eight teams representing all five ICC regions of world cricket. The teams they will be competing against are Germany, Italy, Ghana, Jersey, Guernsey, Cayman Islands and Qatar.

Head Coach Shane Deitz says it will be a tough tournament again.

“There are with eight strong sides all looking to finish in the top two to go to division 4,” he said.

“We came fourth last year and we have learnt a lot from that experience and from our qualifying tournament in February where we played some great cricket. The team is maturing and we now have 14 players who are all capable of being match winners on their day.”

The team is Andrew Mansale (Captain), Jonathon Dunn (Vice Captain), Callum Blake, Jelany Chilia, Wolford Kalworai, Trevor Langa, Patrick Matautaava, Williamsing Nalisa, Nalin Nipiko, Joshua Rasu, Kalo Shem, Ronald Tari, Jamal Vira and Wesley Viraliliu.

Dietz said there are two changes from the team in Bendigo.

“Experienced player Wolford Kalworai is available for selection again and comes in for Gilmour Kaltongga and Kalo Shem has been selected for his first tour to replace Apo Stephen who has been left out due to not being able to commit to the team culture and behaviours we expect,” he said.

“Kalo really deserves this opportunity through a lot of hard work over the last two years and stronger performances at club level.

“A few players who have been on a number of tours now like Callum, Ronald and Josh I expect them to step up their performances and take more leadership on and off the field to assist our consistent performing senior group.

“We also have two of our under 19 boys in the side who will be on their second tour and have stepped up to the standard of the national team extremely well.”

The team will depart on August 21 and will have two weeks preparing in South Africa before the tournament.