ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 19, 2021

Lega Siaka

Oman Cricket Academy Ground

Papua New Guinea

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. It's been a really long road to the men's T20 World Cup with the qualifier two years ago in the UAE and the event finally coming back to the Middle East. Can you give us a word about the sense of occasion yesterday and Oman's efforts in hosting a World Cup?

LEGA SIAKA: It's going to be a really good opportunity to play in the first game. It's a good start.

Can you go again?

Q. Just the qualifier was in UAE two years ago and you're back in the Middle East for the actual World Cup. Can you give us a word about the hospitality from Oman cricket and the atmosphere in the stadium yesterday?

LEGA SIAKA: Like I said before, it's a good opportunity to play in the first -- in front of the crowd, which means we didn't play in front of the crowd before. Good experience, a new experience. Compared to 2019, it will be a big change because the World Cup is a tough competition in the world.

Q. What was the reaction like back in Moresby? Did people stay up to watch the game, and were the team receiving a lot of support?

LEGA SIAKA: Definitely, yes. A lot of people and also the family and friends, they're giving us the support, the support from back home. It's good, yeah.

Q. You've had a fairly inconsistent run lately; how are you planning to turn this around tomorrow? You have only two days to turn around your performance. How are you looking at it?

LEGA SIAKA: Just do the little things right and keep continue the positive things, and big things will take care by themself. Today we've got to train as well to try to work on tomorrow's game.

Q. Yesterday Scotland defeated Bangladesh. Does that change the way you look at Scotland as a team? Do you see them as a more dangerous side? You've been playing them pretty often in the associate league, right?

LEGA SIAKA: Scotland, yes, they're one of the best associate teams, but as the game goes, we are trying to be positive playing each team. We don't see them as a giant. We see them as a team who are competing here, as well. Like us, we are trying to play good hard cricket here, as well.

Q. Did the result of Bangladesh losing yesterday surprise you? Were you surprised by the result? You'll be playing them next.

LEGA SIAKA: Yeah, it was surprising getting the result yesterday, Scotland beat Bangladesh. Because we know that Bangladesh are one of the highest teams in the world, so they was upset yesterday; Scotland beat Bangladesh.

Q. Since you've been playing Scotland regularly, you obviously know the players well. Do you have specific plans for specific players? Are you targeting any particular players?

LEGA SIAKA: No, maybe just on the powerplay, just that our players bowl well, and yeah.

Q. Are you excited to play again tomorrow? Are you will you try to win tomorrow's game?

LEGA SIAKA: Yes, I'm excited to play against Scotland because they beat Bangladesh, so yes, I'm excited to play against them, and we'll be doing some planning for playing against them, so yeah.

Q. How is the team spirit in the changing room following yesterday's result? And will that help you tomorrow in the game against Scotland?

LEGA SIAKA: It was encouraging inside. We got only two games left, and yes, we've been talk about the performance of the game we lost against Oman. Of course we try our best to change the game.