Fiji name new women's captain
The upcoming ICC EAP Women's Championship in Vanuatu will be the biggest event in the history of women's cricket in Fiji.
Following on from the announcement that Jo Rika would coach the team to Vanuatu, today Cricket Fiji CEO Jon Symonds also announced that there would be a new captain.
"Unfortunately our captain of the women's national team Losi Harford suffered a significant stroke last year, that has left Losi in rehabilitation recovering from the event. Whilst Losi is doing one hell of a job in getting her health back, she cannot play cricket for the foreseeable future and it is under very sad circumstances we have been forced to make the the change. Losi was a great captain and I have no doubt will be revving the girls up from the sidelines," said Symonds.
The replacement will be Australian based player Alicia Dean.
"Alicia plays first class cricket in Australia, where she has been in good form both at club and on the national scene. Having played a lot of cricket at a higher level than most of her Fiji team mates, Alicia has heaps of cricket experience and a good cricketing brain. She is popular with the girls but also has the toughness that a leader requires and Cricket Fiji is confident that Alicia will do an outstanding job," said Sydmonds.
Speaking from Australia, Dean was thrilled with the opportunity to captain Fiji.
"I am excited and honored to be given the captaincy for my birth country. Japan will go in as favorites, but I'd like to think that we would give them a decent nudge," said Dean. "Realistically though it is another fantastic opportunity for Fiji to play more cricket and continue to improve and play like opposition. Our biggest rivals will be Vanuatu and Samoa and I'm hoping we can knock them over!"
"Unfortunately we are without regular Captain Losi Harford who is recovering from illness as well as current Cricket Fiji Women's player of the Year Ruci Kaiwai (expecting). Both are big losses to the team as they have been key contributors in past tours. This will mean that all the girls selected will need to make contributions in each game if we are to be successful, myself included."
"Whilst new coach Jo Rika has some tough shoes to fill following Steve Jenkin's departure, I'm sure he will do a good job, but ultimately it will come down to the players and the way they apply themselves from now and until the last ball of the last game... which I'm hoping will be a final!"
The ICC EAP T20 World Cup Qualifier takes place in Vanuatu between the 14th and 18th of May 2012 and will be contested by Fiji, PNG, Japan, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Samoa. The Squad to travel to Vanuatu will be released by Cricket Fiji on Monday the 16th April.