Constantinou Shield to identify PNG Cricket's Best talent

Cricket PNG is extremely excited and proud to announce the creation of a new high profile event called the Constantinou Shield. Cricket PNG would like to thank the estate of Sir George Constantinou for contributing a significant sponsorship as the naming rights sponsor of this outstanding event.

Replacing what was formerly the Cricket Super Series will be the Constantinou Shield. The Constantinou Shield recognizes the contribution of the late Sir George Constantinou and his support for PNG Sport and the community.

The Constantinou Shield will be an official National Men.s selection trial. Played over eight weeks and starting on 21 June 2009, the tournament features four teams that have been franchised to local major businesses and supporters of cricket.

The final of the Constantinou Shield will be played on Sunday 16 August.

The 4 teams competing will be Brian Bell and Co, Beltek, Esco and Kina Security. They will compete for the Constantinou Shield as overall Champions having completed two rounds of one day 50 over matches and the Constantinou Twenty/20 Big Bash.

The Constantinou Twenty/20 Big Bash will be played as a festival of Cricket on Saturday 11 June and Sunday 12 July. The four teams will be made from the full PNG National Mens squad of 23 plus the National U/19 squad of 18 players. Three (3) invited players from Central province will also be included.

As part of building the future national squad, PNG Cricket will be flying in eight (8) invited players from Lae and Kimbe Cricket Associations to take part in the Constantinou Twenty/20 Big Bash weekend on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July.

Having completed the battle for the Constantinou Shield, Cricket PNG will then announce its National Men?s High Performance squad of 24 for 2009/2010 and its team for the ICC EAP Trophy in Samoa in September.