Kaia Arua: The East Asia-Pacific cricket community is reeling from the loss of Papua New Guinea international Kaia Arua, who passed away at the age of just 33.
A prominent all-rounder for the Lewas, Arua’s journey in national team colors began at the East Asia-Pacific Trophy in 2010, where she showcased her talent against hosts Japan in Sano.
Over the years, Arua became a fixture in PNG’s lineup for various East Asia-Pacific pathway events and Pacific Games cricket.
Her skills and dedication earned her a spot in the team’s roster for the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Arua’s leadership qualities came to the fore when she took on the captaincy of PNG in a match against Ireland at the 2018 T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Her contributions were further recognized when she was named in the ICC Women’s Global Development squad later that same year.
Assuming the captaincy permanently at the 2019 East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Qualifier, Arua guided her team to victory, securing qualification for prestigious tournaments like the 2019 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier and the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Known for her fluid left-arm wrist spin and adept batting skills, Arua led Papua New Guinea in 39 T20Is with official status, emerging victorious in 29 matches.
Her tally of 59 T20I wickets at an impressive average of 10.2 stands as the highest by a PNG women’s international, with her remarkable figures of 5/7 against Japan ranking as the second-best in her team’s T20I history.
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Arua’s impact extended beyond the international arena, as she also showcased her talent in Fairbreak tournaments for the Falcons across 2022 and 2023.
Her contributions to the game will be remembered fondly, leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing world.
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