Papua New Guinea Cricketer Kipling Doriga Arrested in Jersey Amid Robbery Investigation

Papua New Guinea wicketkeeper-batter Kipling Doriga has been arrested in Jersey while participating in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, a pathway tournament for the T20 World Cup qualifiers. The 29-year-old cricketer is facing serious charges after allegedly being involved in a robbery in St. Helier, the capital of Jersey, on August 25.

According to reports, Doriga was taken into custody and presented before the Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, where he admitted to the charges. Due to the seriousness of the allegations, Relief Magistrate Rebecca Morley-Kirk referred the case to the Royal Court. The hearing has been scheduled for November 28.

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Bail Denied, Doriga to Remain in Custody

Kipling Doriga’s bail application was denied, which means he will stay in police custody until the hearing. In response to his arrest, Cricket Papua New Guinea issued a statement saying that the matter is personal and not connected to the national team. “This is an individual incident. The Papua New Guinea national cricket team is not involved in this matter,” the statement said.

Impact on PNG Cricket

Doriga is a well-known player in PNG cricket, having played 97 international matches for the national team. He was also part of Papua New Guinea’s squads in the 2021 and 2024 ICC T20 World Cups. His arrest is a major setback for the team during an important tournament that affects World Cup qualification.

PNG Performance in CWC Challenge League

Papua New Guinea have had a mixed run in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League. They have won four matches, lost four, and one game ended with no result. The team has nine points and a net run rate of -0.131 on the points table. The team started well, winning against Denmark, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kenya in the September-October 2024 leg. However, their recent results have not been good, with losses to Denmark, Kuwait, and Jersey.