Papua New Guinea's cricketers face a familiar problem in their attempts to prepare for a tour to the United Arab Emirates in April.
The Barramundis returned home on Thursday from a four-match limited overs tour of Australia, capped off by a three run victory over the ACT XI in Canberra.
Prior to that their last hit-out was a three match ODI series against Hong Kong in November.
Next on the schedule is World Cricket League and Intercontinental Cup matches against the UAE in Dubai.
PNG Barramundis coach Dipak Patel. Photo: Cricket PNG
But PNG coach Dipak Patel said they have no matches scheduled before that series begins in April.
"So that's pretty unfortunate but we're sort of getting to a stage now where you can only train so much in the nets," he said.
"Unfortunately that sort of reflects how we play when we start tours - we're very slow starters because we haven't had the game-time.
"It's a case of having to improvise when we get back home: try and get some game scenariors and open-wicket sessions and so forth, so the next three/four weeks are going to be very important in our build up to Dubai."
The Barramundis team during their Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia in October. Photo: Cricket PNG
PNG are currently second in the World Cricket League ODI Championship standings, behind the Netherlands, with six wins from eight games.
The Barramundis are fourth in the four-day Intercontinental Cup standings, behind Ireland, Afghanistan and the Netherlands.
The UAE are bottom in both competitions.
