Cricket PNG

The women have been selected by national selectors and endorsed by the Cricket PNG Board for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe in November and December 2021.

The team includes:

• Kaia Arua
• Pauke Siaka
• Tanya Ruma
• Brenda Hoi Tau
• Sibona Lucy Jimmy
• Vicky Ara’a
• Mairi Tom
• Isabel Toua
• Kevau Tanya Frank
• Naoani Nonoi Vare
• Hollan Doriga
• Melani Ani
• Henao Jean Thomas
• Veru Kila Frank
• Ravini Oa

Erani Pokana is a non-travelling reserve.

The squad has a strong Central and Port Moresby flavor throughout with 2 players from outside namely Sigo Kelly from Lae and Ketanaliki Singi from Mine Bay.

With COVID-19 hampering the selection process and the no U19 competition in the country, it’s going to be a big development leap for a number of young talents.

However with the faith and watchful eye of coaches including national talent identification coach Rodney Maha the boys have displayed great enthusiasm and potential to show their talent, class and skill on the world stage.

The recent measure released by the National Control Centre restricts any gathering of more than 20 people.

In a statement, Cricket PNG said it believes that cricket does comply with this and would like to be able to play and train in accordance with all lockdown measures. 

“While we await confirmation of our interpretation of the new measures, Cricket PNG has suspended all cricket, and has instituted full COVID-19 protocols allowing only small group trainings.

Strength and conditioning within PNG itself is a very new concept. For the [cricket] players, it’s definitely brought up their standard and it has no doubt changed the game.

Being the first woman appointed to coach an international men’s cricket team (in the S&C department), I have certainly developed a love for this sport science.

Initially coaching the Lewas, I have now been in the role for three years and am part of the support team for the PNG Barramundis.

The former national captain passed away suddenly in Port Moresby on Wednesday September 29^th.

“The Amini family has represented Papua New Guinea with distinction – on and off the field – playing vital roles on the field, and in leadership, with an Amini captaining a Cricket PNG team becoming somewhat of a formality,” said CPNG.

It’s been a long journey.

I’m 29 now and I’m confident that my team, the Kumul Petroleum PNG Barramundis, are ready for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after a solid preparation at home.

We’ll be going in as underdogs in the October tournament because Oman have home advantage and Scotland have been there before. This will be our first time.

But it would be an opportune time to learn from the whole experience. 

Travelling the world with the PNG Barramundis, I get to experience different cultures and understand the way people live.

We also get a chance to showcase what PNG is, not just through cricket but through our cultures as well.

Growing up in a family of cricket players, I quite naturally conditioned myself to the sport, ultimately making it my career.

The sport has given me so much.

Assad who captained the Barras to their first world qualifier in Dubai in 2019 said they have maintained bulk of the team for the upcoming world cup except for two new additions who will be making their debut this year.

He said the boys are in good spirits and looking forward to the challenge.

Assad said though their initial preparations were disrupted by the pandemic restrictions they very fortunate to have run the Isuzu Barras T5O Cricket Bash as a warm up.

In a day that culminated in the official announcement of the ICC T20 World Cup Barras squad, the final was a fitting entree.

Vala won the toss and elected to send the Legends into bat with the decision paying dividends immediately as Ura was dismissed by Bobby Diho without scoring. CJ Amini (5) was the next to go before L Siaka (14) and S Bau (16) put on a steadying partnership.

The coaching staff, led by National Coach, Carl Sandri, altered the team lists to change the game dynamics; a luxury afforded in this in-house competition.

The theory behind the changes as explained by Sandri was “to essentially try to manipulate the game so we had more contests between the top ranked batsmen and the top ranked bowlers, hopefully creating as much competition as we can between the two skill sets”.

The first game saw the Legends bat first, whose top six replicated the Barras’ last international match.