CRICKET Papua New Guinea (Cricket PNG) continues to nurture and showcase the nation’s raw talent, with rising cricket star John Kariko, a left handed spin bowler, standing as a local example of what passion and dedication can achieve.
At just 21 years old, Kariko has quickly risen through the ranks, becoming the youngest player in the PNG Barramundis squad and representing the country during 2024 on the international stage at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the ICC Men’s Challenge League in Kenya and Uganda.
From the cricket heartland of Hanuabada, known as the “Big Village,” Kariko’s journey shows the village’s rich legacy of producing elite athletes. Finding passionate raw talent is always a challenge in sports, but not in cricket as the hub of talented cricketers are often found in Hanuabada.
The village keeps the momentum alive, feeding our national teams with exceptional players in previous years and up till now.
The coastal regions of PNG have always been the stronghold of the game. But notably, Cricket PNG now has nine staff in the Highlands growing the game, and we saw the first Highlands Championship held last year.
Our national efforts to expand our cricketing base will see our development program, which under the guidance of BSP reached 129,000 kids last year and over 1.5 million since its inception 14 years ago, ready to expand into three new provinces, making a total of 14 provinces.
His story is an inspiration for every young Papua New Guinean dreaming of wearing the national colors. What started as casual games of volleyball soon shifted when Kariko took a chance in a community cricket competition organized by the Barramundis national male cricket team, in his village. Little did he know, this would ignite a passion that now drives him to dream of one day captaining the national team, the ’Barramundis.’
I get tired of playing sometimes, but I am the only left-arm spinner in the team,” Kariko said with a smile, showcasing the humility and determination that has become his trademark.
Since making his ODI debut at 19 against UAE in March 2023 and then his T20I debut against Vanuatu in July that year, John has been one of the first picked Barramundis and has quickly established himself as the front-line spinner.
At the T20 World Cup, he impressively claimed the wicket of West Indies star Nicholas Pooran, to underline his potential. Originally inspired by Indian cricket icon Ravindra Jadeja, at that global event he continued to refine his skills under the mentorship of former international players like Tatenda Taibu and Phil Simmons.
Cricket has taken John to Australia, Nepal, Singapore, Dubai, West Indies, China and more tours to come, carrying the PNG flag higher with the national cricket team, and there is no doubt John will be part of the Barramundis setup for years to come.
The national cricket team brings the best out of this sport, as both the men’s and women’s national teams proudly sit within the ICC’s Top 20 ranked T20 teams, reflecting PNG’s growing stature on the global stage.
This year is an important year for Cricket PNG, with major international tournaments marked on crickets’ calendar:
April: Garamuts in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup EAP Division 1 Qualifier in Japan
June: Lewas in the PNG 50th Anniversary Pacific T20 Invitational Tournament in Port
Moresby (TBC)
July: Lewas in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier in Fiji
August: Barramundis in the ICC Men’s Challenge League Round 2 in Jersey
October: Barramundis in the combined ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia-East Asia Pacific
Qualifier in Oman
October: Lewas in the ICC Women’s Super League (TBC)
These events are crucial for PNG’s qualification for future ICC World Cups and for securing ongoing support and funding to develop the game further across the country. Without sponsors, there are no organized trips for international competitions and games.
The support for young talent through exposure and skills development has become the benchmark in CPNG.
As Kariko puts it, “When I’m on the field, I don’t talk much—I just focus. Cricket has become more than just a game for me; it’s my passion.”
Cricket PNG invites everyone to get behind our players, support their journeys, and celebrate the talent emerging from villages like Hanuabada. Cricket in PNG as we understand is not just a sport; it’s a way of life.
Let cricket be played, let passion be the guide, and let’s inspire the next generation of cricket stars.
