Photo Credit: Cricket PNG
The Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis have arrived in Oman in preparation for their historic first World Cup appearance in October. The Shangra-La Hotel in Muscat will host the squad for the next month until the next leg of the tour where they go to the United Arab Emirates.
Since the team started in quarantine in Port Moresby five days before the first flight until they return in approximately three months, the team and support staff will have PCR tests at least every 5 days to continually provide assurance that no one has been infected by Covid. At any point a positive Covid test could put the tour and World Cup appearance in jeopardy. With such high stakes there are many biosecurity measures in place, making this a tour like no other before.
With this being the first time the whole squad has been together, many are meeting Head Coach Carl Sandri and other support staff for the first time in person. It was clear that all the work everyone has put in using online tools had paid off with the squad bonding quickly and really enjoying being able to train together for the first time.
The Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis begin the tour with one day internationals against Nepal and USA from September 4. These will be day/night fixtures due to the heat in Oman. There are 16 games in total in the lead up to the World Cup against seven nations, five of which will be competing in the ICC T20 World Cup. These games will be a mixture of one day internationals and T20’s, with particular interest in our Cricket World Cup League Two round against Oman and Scotland – our first-round opponents in the World Cup.
