Andy Bichel sends well wishes to PNG

Former Cricket PNG National Coaching Director, Andy Bichel has sent his best wishes to the PNG Hebou Garamuts skipper Chris Kent and his team on the eve of their sixth Under 19 World Cup appearance.

The PNG Under 19 side are currently in Brisbane and will play one more practice match today against one of the pre- tournament favourites, Pakistan before they head to Townsville for their pool matches.

In an email sent to Garamuts skipper, Chris Kent and the Cricket PNG staff, Bichel was excited for the boys who were preparing to compete in the 2012 Under 19 World Cup.

"On the eve of another World Cup appearance (6th) for PNG cricket, I would like to wish the boys all the best for this tournament. To all the staff and supporters, I will be cheering nice and loud from the sidelines as always as the PNG boys do battle over the next few weeks."

Bichel is currently a part-time selector for Cricket Australia's national team and is still heavily involved with coaching the Chennai Super Kings who were runners-up in the recently completed Indian Premier League (IPL). He has a heavy schedule over the next 6 months with commitments with the Australian team where he will be travelling with the team to Sri Lanka in September and October for the Twenty20 World Cup. This will be followed by a huge summer of cricket back home in Australia with South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies touring. His role as a selector for the Australian team will become full time during the international series and domestic competitions which include the Shield games and the T20 Big Bash. At the end of the year he will be heading over with the Chennai Super Kings where South Africa will play hosts for the fourth Twenty20 Champions League.

The PNG Under 19 side has impressed so far in their warm-up matches prior to the World Cup with victories over Scotland and Nepal. Their only loss came at the hands of Bangladesh.

PNG's first pool match of the World Cup will be against Zimbabwe on the 11th of August followed by matches against the West Indies and India.