Fiji named ICC EAP U17 hosts

Cricket in Fiji has received a huge coup after being named as hosts for the 2012 International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific Under 17 tournament.

This will be the first time in 11 years that Fiji has hosted a competition of this calibre and is a direct reflection of the resurgence of cricket in this country.

Cricket Fiji high performance manager Steve Jenkin said this was a huge achievement for the game in Fiji and the tournament represents an exciting opportunity for our young cricketers.

"This is an exciting moment for Cricket Fiji and we're delighted to be named as hosts," Jenkin said.

"As a young cricketer, to be able to play in front of a home crowd is such a special feeling and I'm really excited that our players will get to experience that.

"Also, it will be great for the people of Fiji to be able to see cricket of this level played in this country."

Fiji last hosted an ICC EAP tournament in 2001, which was the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup qualifier between Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Fiji ? won by PNG.

The Under 17 competition is likely to feature a host of teams from around the region, including PNG, Japan, Vanuatu, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Indonesia and will be a taste of the future stars of the game from this region.

The ICC is yet to set a date for the tournament. The Under 17's is held every two years, with this year's held in September in Vanuatu and won by PNG.

In other news, action continues today in the final day of the Under 19 All Stars tournament at the Suva Grammar ground.

This tournament is being used to select the Under 19 team which will compete in the ICC EAP competition in February next year.