Guernsey Cricket has announced its squads for an historic series of matches against Papua New Guinea this week, starting this afternoon and continuing at the weekend.

The sides will contest a T20 International this evening and then two 50-over matches on Saturday and Sunday.

The series is part of PNG’s preparations for a tournament in Jersey later this month.

This evening’s T20 clash will be the first time Guernsey will have faced a team from outside of Europe in that format.

“With PNG having played in the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups, and currently ranked 22nd in the world, this obviously represents yet another significant step up for us,” said Guernsey Team Manager Rob Thomson.

“However, it is an opportunity too good to turn down and a win would give us a big boost to our ranking points. It’s certainly something all the squad are fully embracing.”

The opportunity has come about because of PNG’s involvement in the 50-over ICC Challenge League in Jersey at the end of the month, said Thomson.

“Knowing they were heading this way, I reached out to their Board and put forward a proposal which sees their pre-tournament preparations take place here in Guernsey, which is a huge coup for the island.

“Alongside the T20I, PNG will utilise our top-class facilities at KGV on Friday for training before concluding their short visit with two 50 over games at the weekend.”

The Guernsey selectors are using the matches as an opportunity to introduce players to representative cricket in these formats, as well as bring back a couple of familiar faces, explained Thomson.

“For the T20I, we are delighted to welcome Josh Butler back to the squad for the first time since the T20I series in Jersey in early June. Freddie Forshaw and Evan Le Huray make their first T20I squads and we continue to be impressed by their ongoing development and strong performances for the under-19s over a period of time.

“We are keen to use the 50-over games to look at a number of players and share the load as we hit the middle of a busy period.

“Ryan Levy impressed during the MCC games in May and returns to the squad and Sam Gregson has been selected in a senior representative squad for the first time in recognition of his domestic form and some notable performances in the recent under-19 tournament in Scotland.”

Founded in 1972, Cricket PNG is the official governing body of cricket in Papua New Guinea and was elected an Associate Member of the ICC in 1973, before competing in ICC Trophy in 1979.

Since that initial tournament, PNG – nicknamed the Barramundis – has competed in a total of 33 ICC Sanctioned/Pacific Games competitions across a number of formats.

Guernsey squads

v. PNG, T20i at the KGV, Thursday 14 August, start 17:00

Ollie Nightingale, Lucas Barker, Luke Bichard, Martin-Dale Bradley, Josh Butler, Ollie Clapham, Zak Damarell, Ben Ferbrache, Charlie Forshaw, Freddie Forshaw, Evan Le Huray, Adam Martel, Tom Nightingale, Charlie Simmonds

v. PNG, 50 over matches at KGV, Saturday 16 August and Sunday 17 August, starts 11:00

Ollie Nightingale, Lucas Barker, Luke Bichard, Charlie Birch, Alex Bushell, Josh Butler, Ollie Clapham, Zak Damarell, Ben Ferbrache, Charlie Forshaw, Freddie Forshaw, Sam Gregson, Harry Johnson, Ryan Levy, Evan Le Huray, Nathan Le Tissier, Adam Martel, Tom Nightingale

Head Coach: Jeremy Frith, Assistant Coach: Craig Hogan, Support Coach: Rupert Kitzinger, Physio: Alex Duncan, Manager: Rob Thomson