Kiplin Doriga built a steady international career as Papua New Guinea’s wicketkeeper-batter, known for tidy glovework and useful lower-order runs. Born on October 18, 1995, he rose through PNG’s pathway to become a regular presence across formats.
He made his ODI debut in 2017 and broke into T20 internationals two years later, eventually representing his country at two T20 World Cups and appearing in nearly a hundred senior matches. Kiplin Doriga’s game was never flamboyant but his reliability behind the stumps and occasional vital innings made him an important member of the Barramundis set-up.
Kiplin Doriga’s role for PNG reflected the realities of Associate cricket, where players must often be multi-skilled and ready to shoulder different responsibilities. He played both stabilising and counter-attacking roles with the bat and his statistics include a notable unbeaten 89 in List A play, showing he could produce substantial contributions when required. He featured in PNG’s campaigns at the global qualifiers and was selected for the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups, experiences that marked the high points of his international journey and raised his profile among cricket followers outside the Pacific.
That career background makes the events of late August 2025 especially jarring. While PNG were competing in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League leg in Jersey, Kiplin Doriga was arrested after an incident in St. Helier in the early hours of August 25. Reports say he was formally charged with robbery and brought before a magistrates’ court two days later.
Local and international outlets covering Associate cricket confirmed that the charge was treated as serious and that the court declined bail, remanding Kiplin Doriga in custody pending a Royal Court hearing scheduled for November 28, 2025. Cricket Papua New Guinea acknowledged the incident and said it was monitoring the situation.
Coverage has emphasised how sudden the turn of events was for a player who had been an on-field presence for PNG only days earlier. Match reports from the tournament mention Kiplin Doriga contributing with the bat in recent games before his arrest, underlining the immediate gap his absence created for a small cricketing nation that relies heavily on its experienced core.
The remand and the nature of the charge (robbery) means the legal process will play out away from the pitch, and the outcome could have long-term consequences for both his freedom and his ability to return to international cricket.
For Papua New Guinea cricket, the incident is a reputational blow as well as a sporting loss. Associate teams operate with smaller pools of players and fewer resources, and the sudden removal of an established keeper-batter disrupts plans and morale.
For Kiplin Doriga personally, the contrast between representing his country on the world stage and facing custodial remand in a foreign jurisdiction is stark. As the case moves to Jersey’s Royal Court, fans and administrators will watch closely for legal clarity and any disciplinary outcomes from Cricket PNG or the ICC.
Until then, Kiplin Doriga remains a figure defined by two competing realities – a career that earned him World Cup appearances and a current legal battle that could reshape his future.
