Fiji select Under 17 squad for EAP tournament

Cricket Fiji has selected a National Under 17 Training Squad to prepare for this year's East Asia Pacific Under 17 Cricket Trophy being held in Vanuatu in September.

The squad was selected at the end of the Under 17 National Championship matches between the Eastern All-Stars and Western All-Stars that was held this week in Suva.

"We were quite impressed with the cricket that was played this week," said Cricket Fiji High Performance Manager Steve Jenkin.

"The players were playing the style of cricket that we want them to play and were trying o put into practice the important aspects the coaches had impressed upon them."

With the Eastern All-Stars winning the series 2-0 it was natural that they would dominate selection, but the squad includes players from Moce, Komo, Suva, Nadi and Lautoka, proving that the net has been cast far and wide to select the best possible players for the national team.

The selected squad is:

Tuinasau Akaripa (Moce), Tomasi Cagi (Nadi), Ibrahim Cassim (Lautoka), Metui Daucakacaka (Moce), Josefa Gauna (Moce), Napolioni Gu (Moce), Kelemedi Kaci (Suva), Tua Latu (Moce), Waqaniko Ledua (Komo), Saimone Matakali (Komo), Beitaki Mua (Moce), Matai Paramesiga (Moce), Manase Ravula (Suva), Viliame Salusalu (Komo), Niko Talemaitoga (Moce), Savi Tikonailea (Lautoka), Amanasi Tuitoga (Komo), Joji Veilawa (Komo), Metui Yalimaiwai (Suva).

In early August the squad will be trimmed to the final 14 to travel to Vanuatu with selections based on their training performances between now and the final selection date.

The EAP Under 17 Cricket Trophy will be played in early September, with Fiji being one of four teams competing at the tournament. They will play against regional powerhouse Papua New Guinea as well as Vanuatu and Indonesia.