Cricket Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) has named a 14-player squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) Challenge League campaign in Kenya from October 21 to 31, 2026, with the PNG Barramundis facing a crucial series of matches as they pursue a top two finish in Pool A.
The squad will depart PNG on October 13, travelling via Dubai, where the team will play two 50-over matches against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of its preparations before continuing to Kenya for the tournament.
PNG currently sits third in Pool A and faces a must-win campaign, with victories across all five scheduled matches needed to maintain a chance of finishing in the top two.
The Challenge League is an important step in the ICC's pathway towards qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, making every match critical for the Barramundis as they look to strengthen their position in the competition.
The selected squad brings together experienced national players and emerging talent, with Cricket PNG including three players of particular interest as the team prepares for the demanding 50-over campaign.
The 14 players selected are:
1. Assadollah Vala
2. Sese Bau
3. Patrick Nou
4. Kabua Vagi Morea
5. Lega Siaka
6. Alei Nao
7. Gaba Frank
8. Boio Ray
9. John Kariko
10. Tony Ura
11. Dauncey Tom
12. Doko Rupa
13. Sema Kamea
14. Aue Oru
The inclusion of Sema Kamea provides the Barramundis with an additional pace-bowling option, with the left-arm fast bowler returning to the national squad ahead of the Kenya campaign.
Kamea is expected to bring pace and aggression to the bowling attack, adding another dimension to PNG's efforts to contain opposition batting line-ups and take wickets throughout the tournament.
Young batting allrounder Dauncey Tom, 19, has also earned selection in his first senior national squad.
Tom's inclusion offers the team additional batting depth and another bowling option when required.
His selection represents an opportunity to gain valuable experience at senior international level while contributing to the Barramundis' campaign.
Wicket keeper-batter Doko Rupa has also been selected, earning an opportunity to press his claims for a place in the playing side after being overlooked earlier in the year.
Rupa has continued to train strongly and will have the opportunity to demonstrate his progress as the team prepares for the upcoming competition. His wicketkeeping and batting capabilities could provide important options for the squad during the tournament.
The selection of the three players adds variety to the squad, with Kamea strengthening the pace attack, Tom providing allrounder depth and Rupa offering wicketkeeping and batting options.
PNG will play five matches in Kenya, beginning against Jersey on Thursday, October 22.
The Barramundis will then face Denmark, Qatar, Kuwait and hosts Kenya in a demanding schedule that will test the squad's consistency across the tournament.
The fixtures are:
•Thursday, October 22: PNG vs Jersey
•Sunday, October 25: Denmark vs PNG
•Tuesday, October 27: Qatar vs PNG
•Friday, October 30: PNG vs Kuwait
•Saturday, October 31: Kenya vs PNG
PNG Barramandis Head Coach said, with PNG currently third in Pool A, the team will need to approach every fixture with a strong focus on performance and results.
"Winning all five matches would give the Barramundis a chance of finishing in the top two, although their final position will also depend on the other teams' results."
"The two 50-over matches against the UAE before the tournament will provide valuable preparation, allowing the squad to build match readiness and fine-tune its approach ahead of the opening fixture against Jersey," he added.
Focus on Performance and Qualification
The Kenya campaign represents a significant opportunity for the Barramundis to improve their standing in Pool A and keep their qualification ambitions alive.
With a combination of experienced national representatives and emerging players, Cricket PNG will be looking for the squad to deliver consistent performances with both bat and ball throughout the competition.
The team departs on October 13, this year before beginning the team's, Kenya campaign on October 22, with five matches scheduled across the 10-day tournament period.
Cricket PNG wishes the PNG Barramundis the very best as they prepare to represent PNG on the international stage.