Fiji builds towards World Cricket League event

Cricket Fiji's new competition, the Elite Player League, will commence this weekend with the Western Bulldogs taking on the Sigatoka Dunes at the Army Barracks Ground.

This exciting new competition will feature the best players from Fiji split into three teams ? the Suva Capitals, the Western Bulldogs and the Sigatoka Dunes ? with each team playing four matches.

"The aim of the competition is to get the best players playing against each other on a regular basis,? said Cricket Fiji High Performance Manager, Steve Jenkin. "That way we will know who has earned their place in the National Squad.?

The competition will be played using the same rules as used at international level to ensure that players are used to the competition rules when they progress to playing for the Fiji Blues at international level.

With Fiji set to play in the World Cricket League Division 5 competition in Nepal next February, this competition will be used as an important part of the team selection and preparation phase.

"If players are hoping to be in the team to Nepal then they will have to perform well in this competition,? said Jenkin. "After all, they need to play well among the best players in Fiji, and this is what this competition is about ? the best from Fiji.?

The introduction of the EPL is the latest phase in the growth of Fiji's tournament structure to support the development of players for international cricket. This will continue later this month with the first Under 19 National Championship Tournament which will be played in November/December in two conferences ? the Lau Conference and the Viti Levu Conference.

Elite Player League DrawM

Match Start Time ? 9:30 am

EPL Teams