Domestic cricket is back in action today in Papua New Guinea with added Covid-19 restrictions.
The men's 50 over competition launched three weeks ago but was put on hold the past two weekends following a surge of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.
PNG YELLOW v PNG RED
— Cricket PNG (@Cricket_PNG) July 26, 2020
PNG RED 84/1 (16.1)
16.1: Sam to Ura, OUT
TP Ura c J Kila b R Sam 53 (46)#ISUZU_NATIONAL_CUP_2020 pic.twitter.com/JPC1lEwSiD
A two-week lockdown in Port Moresby was lifted yesterday and Cricket PNG CEO Greg Campbell said they have implemented a range of health and safety measures in place to ensure matches can resume at Amini Park.
"We've put temporary fencing up where we can control who comes in," he said.
"We've actually locked the changing rooms down for the games, so the boys and the girls will be under marquees but separated - so they're not in a small group, they're under the marquees.
"There will be no spectators allowed at the games so we've got to put some protocols and have some more security around that but all looking forward to starting this weekend."
Amini Park is the home of cricket in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Cricket PNG
The National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning gave sporting competitions the green light to resume competition two weeks ago provided they adhered to strict protocols.
Greg Campbell said they could have returned to action last weekend but gave themselves extra time to ensure everything was in place to keep their players and officials safe.
The second round of the men's 50 over competition will be played over the next three days and conclude next weekend before the local T20 competition takes teams through until the end of September.
The women's T20 smash is scheduled to get underway on Monday.
PNG Cricket CEO Greg Campbell Photo: PNG Cricket
While the international calendar remains on ice, Cricket PNG is focused on completing its domestic competitions over the next two months.
Greg Campbell said they're also hoping to send a group of their top players to Australia to play club cricket over the summer.
"Of course getting the ok and the visa restrictions is sort of put on hold a little bit with what's happening in Melbourne and Sydney," he said.
"But we're taking each day, week like everyone does, month by month, so hopefully in a couple of months things are better in Australia and we can get them in to do some isolation and then stay there for four or five months playing cricket."
