Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Men’s Cricket Team History

Cricket first arrived in Papua New Guinea during the late 19th century, brought to the region by Christian missionaries. While the sport was played informally across the country for many years, the first official match involving a representative Papua New Guinea side took place in 1972 against a touring Australia XI at Amini Park in Port Moresby. Shortly thereafter, in 1973, Papua New Guinea was formally recognized as an Associate member of the International Cricket Council.

The team established itself as a significant power within the East Asia-Pacific region, particularly excelling in shorter formats of the game. A major milestone arrived at the 2014 World Cup Qualifier held in New Zealand, where the team earned One Day International (ODI) status, which also granted them T20 International (T20I) status. Later that same year, Papua New Guinea achieved a unique distinction by becoming the first side to secure victories in their opening two matches following the attainment of ODI status.

The team faced a setback in 2018 when they were briefly relegated following a loss to Nepal. However, they demonstrated resilience by securing a top-four finish during the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two, successfully reclaiming their ODI status. Having participated in every World Cup qualifier since 2013, Papua New Guinea enjoyed a standout performance in 2019 by finishing at the top of the table. This success earned the team their maiden appearance at the T20 World Cup in 2021, though they concluded that tournament without a win in the first round.

After missing the qualification window in 2022, the side rebounded by topping the table during the 2024 East Asia-Pacific regional qualifiers. This performance secured their spot at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite their progress, the team was unable to maintain the necessary momentum to qualify for the 2026 tournament.