Cricket Fiji names 2012 National U19 training squad

Following the successful All stars tournament held in Suva, Cricket Fiji have named 18 players in their 2012 U19 National Training Squad.

The squad has been selected from players throughout Fiji and this is reflected in the representation with Suva Association providing 6 players, Lakeba Association 4, Western Association and Oneata Association 3 each and Labasa Association and Namuka I lau Association 1 each.

The Squad comprises a number of current Fiji U19 Representatives including Captain Tukana Tavo who is the only U19 Representative who played for the Fiji Blues men?s team in 2011 and Jerry Tawake of Oneata who won the U19 Bowler of the tournament at the recent All Stars Tournament.

The squad will train together as a group on occasions throughout 2012, each player will also be given High Performance programs to work on by the Cricket Fiji HPM Steve Jenkin when they are back in their regions. Cricket Fiji has indentified qualified coaches in each region to work with these players during the year in conjunction with the HPM.

The first U19 Group Squad session will be held in April 2012 where the majority of players in the squad are expected to be selected in their association teams to participate in the LICI Cricket Fiji Easter Tournament in Suva. Cricket Fiji will run a camp with the squad either before or after the tournament depending on the shipping arrangements of the boat companies to Lau

Cricket Fiji High Performance Manager and Chairman of Selectors Steve Jenkin" There is a U19 International Tournament in 2013, it is therefore important that we select a squad of players to train and prepare a year out. We have also seen how many players have improved over the last 12 months and there is a real opportunity for several of these U19 Players to force their way into the men?s national Training Squad which will be announced in 2012."

Fiji U19 Squad: Tukana Tavo (Suva Association), Metui Ducakacaka, (Suva Association), Jack Smith (Suva Association), Nanscanei Bole (Suva Association), Timoci Gaunavinaka (Suva Association), Kelemedi Kaci (Suva Association), Leonard Maori (Oneata Association), Jerry Tawake (Oneata Association), Bula Tikoisavusavu (Oneata Association), Cakacaka Veritaki (Lakeba Association), Josefa Guana (Lakeba Association), Etona Usa (Lakeba Association), Toko Bogidrau (Lakeba Association), Amir Iqbal (Labasa Association),Tauaysa Vakarau (Western Association), Lorima Wotta (Western Association), Iliesa Noke (Western Association) and Inoke Tauralau (Namuka I Lau Association)