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Papua New Guinea (PNG) wicketkeeper-batter Kiplin Doriga has landed in big trouble as he has been booked for robbery charges during the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League in Jersey. It all happened in in St. Helier on August 25.
Papua New Guinea's Kiplin Doriga charged with robbery
Doriga appeared before a Magistrate’s Court in Jersey on Wednesday, August 27, where he pleaded guilty to the charge, as per a PNG news outlet EMTV. The Magistrate deemed the case serious enough to be referred to the Royal Court. Consequently, Doriga was denied bail and will remain in custody until his next hearing on November 28, 2025.
The 29-year-old is a veteran player for PNG, having represented his country in the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups. He has played 39 One-Day Internationals and 43 T20 Internationals, accumulating over 1,000 runs across both formats. In the current Challenge League in Jersey, Doriga scored 68 runs against Denmark and 12 runs against Kuwait, with PNG losing both matches.
Meanwhile, Cricket PNG has issued a statement clarifying that the matter is an individual issue concerning Doriga and will not affect the team's performance in the tournament.
Talking about PNG's performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, they have managed four wins and as many defeats, and one no-result in their nine matches. They ended the tournament with nine points and a net run rate of - 0.131.
PNG began the September-October 2024 phase with promising victories against Denmark, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kenya. Both their batting and bowling units seemed to be working well together, raising hopes for a strong finish. However, their form dipped significantly in the 2025 leg of the competition. They suffered defeats to Denmark, Kuwait, and Jersey, including a heavy 160-run loss to the hosts on August 28. A washed-out match against Kenya also hindered their progress. Skipper Assad Vala was a standout with the bat, scoring 213 runs in eight innings at an average of 35.50, which included an impressive unbeaten knock of 129. With the ball, Kabua Morea was PNG's most reliable bowler, leading the attack with 23 wickets at an average of 16.08.
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