Assad Vala to Lead PNG at T20 World Cup

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has named Assad Vala as their captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Vala, who also led the team in 2021, will be assisted by allrounder Charles Amini as vice-captain.

Ten of the 15 players selected for the 2024 event were part of the squad in 2021. Jack Gardner, who was a reserve three years ago, has now been included in the main squad.

PNG qualified for this year's T20 World Cup by topping the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in 2023, where they won all six of their matches. They enter the tournament on the back of a 2-0 series win against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, which came immediately after they won a T20I tri-series also featuring Nepal and Hong Kong.

PNG will start their World Cup campaign against co-hosts West Indies in Guyana on June 2. They are part of Group C, which also includes Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Uganda.

Vala expressed optimism about the team's chances in the tournament. "The energy has been great within the team," he said. "For some of the boys who went to the last T20 World Cup, it's a different feeling now with a lot of the training, because the last time was during Covid and the preparation wasn't as good as what we're going through now. I am looking forward to this event because I know we are going to do well."

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