Teamwork the key at ICC EAP Squad Camps

The ICC East Asia-Pacific Squad Camps came to their conclusion last Friday after two successful weeks that saw twenty-seven players across the region flying to Queensland to participate.

The ICC EAP hosted players from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, South Korea and Vanuatu. The camp was split into two squads, with one squad participating in a number of matches at the Runaway Bay Sport Super Centre on the Gold Coast and the second squad being based at the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

The players got the opportunity to work on their games under the fine guidance of coaches with international and first-class experience including John Davison, Graeme Hick and Stuart Law.

ICC EAP Regional Development Officer Tom Evans highlighted the opportunity that the players from the region received at the camp.

"To play and train in such elite facilities and learn from world-class coaches is a great opportunity for the players from our region to enhance their development."

The ICC EAP Squad Camps was a true melting pot of cultures throughout the East Asia-Pacific region. Fast-bowler Inderjit Benipal from the Philippines stressed the importance of teamwork in bringing the squad together.

"It's good to be part of the EAP. (We can) play as one team even though we are from different countries. Good team work can help us win matches."

Tiafala Alatasi from Samoa shared the importance of teamwork. Asked what he has learnt from his week at the ICC EAP Squad Camp, Alatasi commented,

"Bat and bowl with my team, not only myself. Building up great partnerships leads to great success."

The ICC EAP Squad Camps helped serve as a selection trial for the Australian Country Cricket Championships to be held in Bundaburg in January 2013. The ICC EAP will hope to improve on their impressive 4th place finish at the 2012 competition.