THE PNG Barramundis have officially been crowned League Champions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier in Japan after finishing on top of the standings following the completion of the Super Six stage.
PNG concluded the tournament with three wins from four matches, earning eight competition points and finishing ahead of hosts Japan on net run rate.
The Barramundis produced a dominant campaign throughout the qualifier, recording victories against Indonesia, Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu, while suffering only one defeat in their final match yesterday (Monday 18 May) against Japan.
PNG finished the tournament with an impressive net run rate of +2.1200, scoring 751 runs across 100 overs while restricting opposition teams to 539 runs from their allotted 100 overs.
Japan also finished on eight points after winning four matches; however, PNG’s superior net run rate secured top position and the League Champion title.
Samoa and Cook Islands both completed the tournament with six points, while Vanuatu and Indonesia rounded out the standings.
Final Points Table:
1. PNG Barramundis – 8 points (+2.1200 NRR)
2. Japan – 8 points (+1.4807 NRR)
3. Samoa – 6 points (+1.1175 NRR)
4. Cook Islands – 6 points (-0.5812 NRR)
5. Vanuatu – 2 points (-2.5529 NRR)
6. Indonesia – 0 points (-2.1393 NRR)
The tournament, played in Japan from 12-18 May 2026, brought together six nations from the East Asia Pacific region competing for progression opportunities toward the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup pathway.
PNG’s strong all-round performances across the tournament highlighted the team’s consistency with both bat and ball, including dominant victories and disciplined bowling displays throughout the competition.
Further details regarding the ICC qualification pathway and progression to the next stage are expected to be confirmed by the International Cricket Council in the coming weeks.