Cricket PNG Announced 14-Man Barramundis Squad for Jersey Tour

Cricket Papua New Guinea (CPNG) officially announced a 14-man squad for the Barramundis on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025, who will travel to Jersey next Monday for their upcoming international Jersey Tour - World Cricket League (50 Overs Format) from August 12th - September 3rd, 2025.  

The announcement was made by Cricket PNG Board Chairman, Michael Harrison, alongside Selection Chairman Hudson Leka, Deputy Chairman Rurua Dikana, and Assistant National Coach John Ovia, at a press briefing held at Amini Park.  

The squad will be led by experienced captain, Assadollah Vala, with Sese Bau named as vice-captain. The full playing squad and team officials are as follows: 

Barramundis Jersey Tour Squad 

1. Assadollah Vala – Captain 

2. Sese Bau – Vice Captain 

3. Kipling Doriga – Player 

4. Hila George Vaieke Vare – Player 

5. Patrick Nou – Player 

6. Kabua Vagi Morea – Player 

7. Alei Nao – Player

8. John Lohia Mea Kariko – Player 

9. Michael Charlie – Player 

10. Damien Ravu – Player 

11. Vagi Guba – Player 

12. Boio Ray – Player 

13. Jason Kila – Player 

14. Peter Karoho – Player 

Team Officials: 

15. John Ovia – Coach 

16. Matteo Amabile – Team Manager / Physio 

17. Kila Pala – Assistant Coach 

18.Alex Stewart-High Performance Coach 

In congratulating the squad, Mr. Michael Harrison said: "On behalf of Cricket PNG, I want to congratulate the 14 players selected to represent Papua New Guinea on the Jersey Tour. This squad is a blend of experience and emerging talent, and we are confident they will make the nation proud. We  wish them all the best as they prepare to showcase PNG’s cricketing strength on the international  stage.” 

Head Coach John Ovia expressed confidence in the squad, stating: "We have put in a lot of hard work leading up to this tour, and I’m confident in the ability and commitment of our boys. This tour will be a good test of our skills, character, and team spirit. The focus now is on fine-tuning before we hit the ground in Jersey. I believe these selected players in the Barramundi’s team have what it takes to deliver strong performances.” 

Selection Chairman Hudson Leka also shared his thoughts on the selection, saying: “The selection process was rigorous, and we looked closely at performance, fitness, and team balance. We are proud of the squad we have named. It is competitive, and it reflects the depth we have in PNG cricket. These players have earned their spots, and I’m confident they will represent the country with pride." 

The team is scheduled to depart for Jersey on Monday, August 11th, 2025. From there, they will have a rest day after four flights and a long journey. 

The team will travel to Guernsey on 14th August for warm-up matches: first up a T20 followed by 2 x ODI against Guernsey on the weekend of 16th and 17th August. The Barramundis will return to Jersey to start the tournament on the 20th of August. 

Cricket PNG wishes the PNG Barramundis all the best in the tournament.