Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) have announced the 14-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 2 tournament in Namibia from Apr 20th – 27th, 2019. PNG will be competing against the host’s Namibia along with Hong Kong, Canada, USA and Oman for 4 qualifying spots into the 2023 ICC World Cup qualification pathway program, CWC League 2 and ODI status until 2022 ICC World Cup qualifiers.
Papua New Guinea, who were at one point of time in the running for the top position in the 2015-2017 ICC World Cricket League Championships, lost out in the race to Netherlands and a highly disappointing campaign in the 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers saw them lose their ODI status and also get relegated to WCL Division 2.
However, ICC’s decision to change the qualification pathway program for 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup has given them the opportunity to regain their lost ODI status. PNG were recently involved in the WT20 EAP regional qualifiers (T20) and have had competitive cricket to feel positive about their upcoming challenge. However, their previous 50-overs matches were against Hong Kong towards the end of 2018 and no matches in that format since then could hamper their preparations for the longer format in white-ball cricket.
PNG Squad for ICC WCL Division 2:
Assad Vala (Captain), Tony Ura, Charles Amini Jr, Norman Vanua, Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Jason Kila, Kipling Doriga, Damien Ravu, Anthony Vare, Simon Atai, Nosaina Pokana, John Reva & Chad Soper
