CRICKET Papua New Guinea has been awarded Women’s One Day International Status for the 2025-2029 cycle effective as of next Monday.

This recognition is a significant milestone for women’s cricket in PNG and demonstrates the continuous growth and commitment.

It will elevate the profile of women’s game within the country and at the Global Stage by our Lewas.

Chief Executive Officer Richard Done said “We are thrilled to have been awarded ODI status for the 2025-2029 cycle.”

 “Over the last 12 months, we have prioritized our Lewas, sending them away to Kenya and UAE in March 2024 and again in July 2024 to The Netherlands. We gambled on those tours paying dividends in retaining our ODI status and that has now paid off.”

“It’s a great springboard to continue developing our Lewas and also aligns with our ambition to make the Olympics, either in 2028, or in our own backyard in Brisbane 2032.

“This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and staff involved in the women’s game here in PNG.”

The announcement comes after the annual update of the ICC Women’s T20I rankings last Thursday.

Scotland and Thailand had retained their status through qualifying for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with the remaining positions to be filled by the next three highest ranked members.

Cricket PNG retained its ODI status based on its continued strong performance of remaining 12^th on that table and were joined by Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB), and Emirates Cricket Board in this prestigious achievement.

The expansion of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) to 10 teams in 2029 presents new opportunities for more teams to compete at the highest level.

Meanwhile PNG Lewas captain, Brenda Tau said,” This gives us the certainty we need to continue to grow as a team on the global stage. We are committed to being the best we can be, and represent our country successfully.”

As part of the criteria, each team with ODI status, including Cricket PNG, must set up domestic structures for 40+ over cricket for at least two years before the Women’s CWC in 2029.

Cricket PNG is committed to building and strengthening its domestic cricket pathways, ensuring that the women’s game continues to thrive in the country.

The organization is excited for what lies ahead as it continues to build on this success, aiming to develop the next generation of talented cricketers who will represent PNG with pride.