Photo: Cricket Fiji national head coach Shane Jurgensen and CEO Inoke Lesuma.
At 11am Wednesday the 13th of May, Cricket Fiji CEO Inoke Lesuma, national head coach Shane Jurgensen and High Performance Manager Josefa Rika made the historic announcement of Cricket Fiji’s first World Cup squad in the history of the sport in the Fiji Islands.
The Fijian squad, predominantly from the isolated Lau Islands exploded onto the international Cricket scene in February this year with shock victories over reigning premiers and hot favourites PNG, strong contenders Vanuatu, before overcoming Samoa in the final match.
The three wins secured the ICC East Asia Pacific U19’s men’s trophy and automatically qualified Fiji for it’s first ever Cricket World Cup set for Bangladesh January 2016.
“Their a history making group for both Fiji and the sport of Cricket, the significance of their achievements earlier this year shouldn’t be underestimated, and neither should their capabilities in the World Cup” said National head coach Shane Jurgensen.
The side remains largely unchanged apart from three wildcard overseas-based players from New Zealand, Australia and England named in the training side.
Saimoni Tuitoga
Delaimatuku Sokoiwasa
Sosiceni Weleilakeba
Peni Qio
Tadulala Veitacini
Petero Cabebula
Kula Ilimeleki
Jone Lagiono
Vaibhav Kapadia
Ledua Kacilala
Peni Volavola
Malakai Fotu
Tuwai Yabaki
Josaia Baleicikoibia
Cakacaka Cokovaki
Jordan Dunham (overseas based)
Sam Saunokonoko (overseas based)
Jack Charters (overseas based)
Training will commence in Suva on June 20, before undertaking a warm-up tour in either Australia or Asia at the end of the year. The squad will fly to Bangladesh on January 10 2016 for a second warm-up tour, before the World Cup starts January 24th.
Press Release