Cricket Fiji is gearing up to host the East Asia Pacific World Cup qualifier in September, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sporting history as this will be the first major regional event held in the country.
Sitiveni Rokoro, the chief executive officer of Cricket Fiji, expressed excitement about the upcoming tournament, which will feature seven participating countries, including Fiji, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu from the Pacific, and Japan and Indonesia from the East Asia region. “This is truly a big event for us,” Rokoro stated.
Preparing for this event has already begun, and Rokoro is actively engaging with various stakeholders to ensure its success. Last year, meetings were held with the government to solicit support, and an application for financial assistance for the upcoming fiscal year has recently been submitted. “We are looking forward to receiving help from the government in hosting this event and other future international tours,” he noted.
The tournament is set to take place at Fiji’s premier cricket venue, Alber Park in Suva. Rokoro added, “It is the best cricket facility in the Pacific, equipped with two pitches and a pavilion. We require two adjacent pitches to accommodate simultaneous matches during the tournament.”
This event presents not only an opportunity to showcase cricket but also to boost sports tourism and engage local communities in the passion of cricket. Hosting such a prestigious tournament could also pave the way for more international events in the future, creating a vibrant cricket culture in Fiji.
Leave a comment