CRICKET has become the first sports to pull out of Team Fiji for the Pacific Games in July in Papua New Guinea.
Although Fiji will be represented in women’s cricket, the men’s cricket team has opted not to play in the Pacific Games.
Cricket Fiji chief executive Inoke Lesuma said the decision was a purely logistical one.
“Vanuatu has pulled out, Samoa is not going and the host themselves are fielding a second grade team, so it is not viable for our men to go and play in the Pacific Games and instead we will use the same resources to focus on the World Cricket League,” Lesuma said.
“To send the team it’s going to cost us $22,000 and then preparing the team close to another $15,000.
“We would be spending something in the vicinity of $45,000 just for the men’s team and sending them to play against in a not so viable competition.
“We have decided to use the same resources and focus on the World Cricket League. This will not only help Fiji move up in ranking but also open doorways for more funding from the International Cricket Council.”
Lesuma said 2015 was a busy year for Cricket Fiji and sound management decisions had to be made and not participating in the Pacific Games was one of them.
He added that in 2015, the under19s would also be playing a qualifier and depending on the result there would be more overseas games to play.
The women’s team however, is going to the Pacific Games.
