The PNG Lewas arrived in Port Moresby yesterday to a proud welcome after being crowned champions of the ICC Women’s East Asia-Pacific T20 Qualifier in Suva, Fiji. The team sealed their place at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal with a dominant nine-wicket win over Vanuatu in the final. They will now join nine other nations including Bangladesh, Scotland, and the Netherlands in the Global Qualifier, where four teams will advance to the Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales. Lewas captain Brenda Tau described the victory as a proud moment for Papua New Guinea, especially with the country celebrating 50 years of independence this week. "I am so proud of our team for this victory. On the eve of our country’s Independence celebrations, this win is gold. We bring home pride in our national colours,” she said. Tau also acknowledged the role of coaches, team management, Cricket PNG, the media, and fans, dedicating the win to the people of Papua New Guinea. Head coach Mahuru Dai added his congratulations to the country. “On behalf of the team, I wish Papua New Guinea a Happy Independence celebration this week. We are proud to fly the flag high,” he said. The Lewas’ success has been described as a unifying moment for the nation, strengthening the sense of pride during the Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations. Their journey now continues with preparations for the Global Qualifier in Nepal, where they will compete for one of four spots at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.