The Cricket Fiji Team today presented their traditional iTatau to His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House.
The cricket team, consisting of young players, will represent Fiji at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) East-Asia Pacific (EAP) region’s Twenty 20 World Cup and World Cricket League Qualifiers in Lismore Australia next month.
HE Ratu Epeli Nailatikau gave his blessing to the team and encouraged them to perform well.
“The itatau has much deeper meaning than asking for permission to leave our shores, it says that you are prepared to face the task that you will perform. I willingly give my blessings and the blessings of the people of Fiji. I know that you have prepared well. I don’t have any doubt that you will fulfill your duties,”HE Ratu Epeli said.
The President added that in sports there will always be scouts at such events and encouraged the teams to perform to show their talents.
“This is a stepping-stone to greater things and the team must look forward to long-term development,” HE Ratu Epeli said.
The President reminisced when the Bau Cricket Team from Fiji won the Dewars Shield Trophy in 1951 which the late President, Ratu Mara at that time captained.
“That time, Ratu Mara was the Divisional Officer for Navua and he captained the Bau team which won from Lautoka. Lau came in the scene later on and won the trophy which is in Lakeba now.”
The Cricket Fiji team will tour the Sunshine Coast Development Tour from October 26 to November 11 and the Pre- International Cricket Council (ICC) Brisbane Training Camp from November 11 to 16.
The Senior Men’s Development Tour of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, with the squad of 16 locally-based players will depart for Australia on Sunday.
Cricket Fiji team coach, Shane Jurgensen said after the squad’s tour of Queensland, the team will assemble in Brisbane for a week-long training camp, before heading south to Lismore on November 17.
“In Lismore, Fiji will play a series of Twenty20 matches against Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, Japan, the Cook Islands, the Philippines and Indonesia. The top ranked team at the conclusion of the tournament will progress to next year’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers for the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup,” Mr Jurgensen said.
Following the tournament, the top four ranked teams (excluding PNG and Vanuatu) will play off in a mini 50-over match series, with the winner advancing back into Division Six of the World Cricket League.