Photo Credit: Cricket PNG
The first ever ICC Female Under 19 World Cup will be held in 2023. Cricket PNG has qualified to be able to send a team to the ICC East Asia Pacific Qualifiers hosted by Indonesia in Bali July 2022, along with Samoa and hosts Indonesia. The winner of this qualifying tournament will gain direct entry to the World Cup.
The Brian Bell Village World Cup Female Under 19 Tournament, supported by the NZ High Commission was played over the weekend of March 19/20 at Amini Park. This allowed Cricket PNG to invite female under 19 cricket players from around the country to compete and to also be seen by national selectors and scouts. With over 50 girls participating, from Port Moresby and beyond, at the best facilities in PNG, players were able to be properly evaluated, and have every opportunity to make this selection. Female Pathways National Selector Udu Vai admitted “settling on only 18 players was a challenge as we were surprised at the great depth of talented young women cricket players we have. Those that did not make it into the team today, should continue to work hard and strive to achieve their cricket dreams, whether it is playing for the Lewas or playing socially.”
The 18 young women selected for the initial Junior Lewas training squad are:
| Batters | Bowlers | Wicket Keepers | |||||
| Annagrace Vala | Keapara, Central | Buruka Vicky | POM | Boio Vare | POM | ||
| Brenda Elly | POM | Helai Vakona | Hula,Central | Apera Ebi | POM | ||
| Hane Lohia | POM | Shanella Ambo | Popondetta, Oro | ||||
| Cathey Ute | POM | Mahuta Japhet | POM | ||||
| Uve Noka | Hula, Central | Dika Lohia | POM | ||||
| Karo Veari | Babaka, Central | Imelda Vaburi | Porebada, Central | ||||
| Margaret Wari | POM | Duna Alex | Alotau, Central | ||||
| Melanie Ani | POM | Initia Vagi | Keapara, Central |
Tears flowed at Amini Park, as the gravity of making the first every Junior Lewas training squad started to sink in to all. Cricket PNG will be working with the families of those based outside of Port Moresby to relocate them, including ensuring they get settled into new schools. This will allow the players to train for the next three months, getting to learn in the Cricket PNG High Performance environment alongside the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas. Prior to the tournament, the final 14 players will be selected to travel as the first ever Cricket PNG Junior Lewas (Female Under 19) side and compete internationally.
Globally it is an exciting time for women’s cricket, and now with the Junior Lewas, young women in PNG have a pathway to represent their country and compete on the world’s stage, proudly representing their country.
