Vanuatu cricket 15-member squad departs for Malaysia

Vanuatu cricket men’s 15-member squad finally departs for Malaysia this week to participate in the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 from 28th Apr – 05th May, 2018.

Vanuatu and Jersey qualified from ICC WCL Division 5 held in Benoni, South Africa in Sep 2017 in the 6-team Division 4.

After qualifying under ICC’s revised residency rules for non-country players for three years, Vanuatu head coach, Shane Deitz, has also been named as a player in the squad.

The 42-year old has played Shield Cricket in Australia for South Australia, playing in 66 First-class matches with close to 3800 runs to his name and after a rather lacklusture Pura Cup season in 2007/2008, Deitz was released from the state side and he took up coaching/development role in Wellington in New Zealand.

Andrew Mansale will once again lead the side which comprises of ICC WCL Division 5 player of the tournament for Vanuatu, Patrick Matautaava and stars like Jelany Chilia and Nalin Nipiko, who impressed all during ICC EAP men’s squad participation in 2018 Australian Country Cricket Championships.

Matautaava and Mansale have been playing grade-level cricket in Australia for the past few months and will be expected to lead the Vanuatu charge in Division 4, where they will compete against Jersey, host’s Malaysia, Bermuda, Denmark and Uganda for the top 2 spots for qualification into ICC WCL Division 3.

Team List

Proudly announcing our National Men's squad to compete in WCL Div4, Malaysia. #roadtoworldcup #wcldiv4 @vasanoc @Deita551 @deathknock pic.twitter.com/5J5EqneayE

— Vanuatu Cricket (@vanuatu_cricket) April 3, 2018

Andrew Mansale (Captain), Jonathon Dunn, Callum Blake, Jelany Chilia, Shane Deitz, Wolford Kalworai, Trevor Langa, Patrick Matautaava, Williamsing Nalisa, Nalin Nipiko, Simpson Obed, Joshua Rasu, Ronald Tari, Wesley Viraliliu and Apollinaire Stephen

Vanuatu matches schedule for ICC WCL Division 4:

29th Apr 2018 – v/s Jersey

30th Apr 2018 – v/s Malaysia

2nd May 2018 – v/s Uganda

3rd May 2018 – v/s Bermuda

5th May 2018 – v/s Denmark

6th May 2018 – Finals & 3rd-4th / 5th-6th play-off’s

Source

Vanuatu Cricket athletes & Vanuatu athletes and staff of Australian aid funded Pacific Sports Partnership Programs celebrate International Day of Sport for Development and Peace advocating for sports role as an important enabler for sustainable development #IDSDP2018 #whitecard pic.twitter.com/Jtw7p04Pc2

— Vanuatu Cricket (@vanuatu_cricket) April 6, 2018