Fiji names team for practice match

Two players set to make their national debuts at the South Pacific Games will get their first chance to represent Fiji in an international practice match on Saturday.

Top order batsman Rukesh Patel and bowler Mesui Talebula have been named in a Fiji President's XI side which will play the visiting New Caledonia team in Lautoka.

The two sides will meet in two Twenty 20 games at the Central College ground following New Caledonia's week-long training camp in Nadi.

Fiji high performance manager Steve Jenkin has been assisting the visiting squad with their camp this week and said he was impressed with their standard even though this type of cricket was still a developing sport in their home country.

"They have very good basic skills, their running between wickets is great,"Jenkin said.

"They played South Korea in a warm up game before the Division 2 tournament and only lost by two runs and you can see that they're improving."

"They're also enjoying the cultural side of things because they're staying in the village in Nadi."

Josefa Rika will captain the Fiji team, while other members of the SPG team ? Tukana Tavo, Lee Waqa, Rukesh Patel, Sekove Ravoka, Maciu Gauna and Seru Topou ? are also named.

Vilikesa Driu, who was a member of the squad which just returned from the East Asia Pacific Division 1 tournament in PNG, will play, along with former national representative Rajeev Patel.

The two games will begin at Central College at 10am and 2pm.

Fiji President's XI: Josefa Rika (c), Tukana Tavo, Mesui Talebula, Lee Waqa, Rukesh Patel, Gaurang Patel, Rajeev Patel, Patrick Tuidraki, Vilikesa Driu, Sekove Ravoka, Inoke Kunau, Maciu Gauna, Seru Topou