PNG trip no burden for Heat’s Roach

Brisbane Heat key import Kemar Roach is confident an ambassadorial trip to Papua New Guinea won’t hamper his Champions League Twenty20 campaign.

The West Indies paceman has been helping international teammate Dwayne Bravo and former skipper Richie Richardson as they promote a Twenty20 tournament in PNG.

The trio have spent the past week promoting cricket in local schools and communities while Roach’s Heat teammates have been playing practice matches ahead of their departure to India on Sunday.

The 25-year-old denies his trip left the Heat unsure of his whereabouts as he always intended to hook up with his Brisbane teammates in India before their tournament opener against Trinidad and Tobago on September 22.

He says taking time out to promote cricket in PNG with Bravo and Richardson had been a rewarding experience and won’t leave him underdone for the Heat.

“It’s gone pretty good so far … I’ve really enjoyed it here,” Roach told AAP on Thursday.

“I’m definitely confident that right now, I have enough time to get acclimatised to India.”

Roach claimed a crucial 3-18 in his last display for the Heat to help them beat the Perth Scorchers and secure last summer’s Big Bash League crown.

After that dramatic success, the Barbados-based quick says he can’t wait to link up with his Brisbane teammates for a crack at a different title.

“They’re a great bunch who are very, very hard-working,” he said.

“They all love to win and that’s come from Darren Lehmann, the previous coach. He instilled that in them and I’m sure they’ll be going to India with the same attitude.

“I’ve already chatted to (new coach Stuart Law), and it’ll be great to get to know him and how he operates and what I can do to help when I get there.”

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