When Cricket ACT launched its Papua New Guinean scholarship program in November, little could they have imagined the impact it would have on the incoming players.
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Eastlake fast bowler Nosaina Pokana is one of six PNG imports playing in Cricket ACT's first grade competition and says the program has been life-changing for those involved.
The prospect of playing in a stadium for the first time has Pokana pinching himself and he is eyeing a return to Canberra next season because it is "pretty much like home".
"[The program is] changing people, especially the ones who are always keeping to themselves," Pokana said.
"Now they're starting to open up, starting to greet people along the street. Even when we go to the mall and hang around, people walking past the boys like to greet and stuff. The scholarship program is having an effect on the boys.
"They're much [more] used to the surroundings now. Some of the boys who don't speak English back home now are opening up and speaking English, getting to open up to their teammates and stuff, so pretty much great to see the lads opening up and adapting to the surroundings."
The ACT named a 12-man squad to take on a PNG XI as curtain-raiser to the Prime Minister's XI's clash with Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval on February 15.
The PM's XI will be played as a Twenty20 under lights for the first time, opening the door for a one-off fixture between the ACT and PNG's national side.
North Canberra-Gungahlin youngster Ben Taylor is set for his second taste of the PM's XI atmosphere after filling the role of 12th man last season.
Taylor will play in a side boasting current Big Bash League players Aiden Blizzard and Jono Dean, with John Rogers - who played in the Big Bash's original state-based format - taking the captaincy reins.
The youngster is coming off his maiden Douglas Cup century, and says if Norths teammate and PNG import Jason Kila is anything to go by, the crowd best be ready for some fireworks.
"They generally like to play their shots, they're pretty aggressive so it should be a good fun game and the crowd should love it," Taylor said.
"We were trying to defend [an outright result] against Eastlake a couple of weeks ago and [Kila] was running at the opening bowlers in the second over. He loves to play his shots but it's all good, and it's good entertainment so it should be really good."
Cricket ACT general manager of high performance Aiden Blizzard says the program has gone "a lot better" than anticipated and wants to see more fixtures of this nature at Manuka Oval.
The PM's XI squad will be named on Friday, with an ACT representative likely to be the 12th man.
ACT XI: John Rogers (C), Jono Dean, Joe Slater (Weston Creek Molonglo), Aiden Blizzard (ANU), Matthew Gilkes, Tom Engelbrecht, Sam Skelly (Western District-UC), Michael Spaseski (Eastlake), Dean Solway (Queanbeyan), Ben Taylor (North Canberra-Gungahlin), Benji Floros (Tuggeranong), Cameron Suidgeest (Ginninderra)
