Cook Islands Cricket Association will be hosting two T20 friendly matches against New Zealand’s Cavalier Cricket team at the Turangi Oval today at 10am and 2pm.

Cook Islands national team head coach Craig Murray said they played against the Cavalier team in January in Auckland and a couple of their players have been in Rarotonga in the past to play some matches.

Murray said the Cook Islands and the Cavalier Club had a relationship some years ago, and this year in January they requested to see if they could play some warm-up games.

He said they had some practice games in New Zealand at the time and later arranged for the Cavaliers to play in Rarotonga.

“They’ve brought a group of 36 over, spouses and children and they’re going to play against us in four T20s starting tomorrow (today) and again on Wednesday, August 7^th,” Murray said.

“Another reason they’re here is to help us prepare for the ICC qualifier in Samoa in the middle of August, a couple of weeks away. We’ll be heading there.”

Murray said he would be travelling with four Cook Islands based players to New Zealand, where they will team up with 10 players and have some practice games before heading to Samoa for the qualifier.