Former PNG opening batsman and current PNG Cricket Board operations manager Lakani Oala is the first ever PNG umpire that will be among a top class umpires taking control of the ICC Under 19 World Cup to be held in Malaysia beginning Feb 17.
Oala, who originally made his mark in the sporting arena as a talented rugby league center for Southern region junior sides in the 1970s, says that he shifted to cricket after seeing his Hanubada teams struggle in the local competition, and from that point, he never looked back to represent PNG at national level.
Oala’s international umpiring career began in 2003 when he officiated in Port Moresby in a match between a PNG select side and the Marylebone Cricket Club of England and went on to umpire at the South Pacific games in Suva, Fiji later that year.
After going on to umpire at other regional tournaments, Oala was invited by the International Cricket Council to attend the associated member umpire seminar in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2006.
Oala has gone on to umpire in 40 matches around the world and has gained considerable exposure to place him amongst the most experienced umpires in the Pacific.
“I’m excited and happy about how my career has gone and thanked the International Cricket Council for giving me the opportunity to be an umpire at the international level. To be a Papua New Guinean cricket umpire umpiring at a world class event is special and speaks volumes for itself,” Oala said of his selection by the ICC.
Oala thanked the PNGCB for giving him the opportunity to umpire overseas.
PNG Cricket Board general manager Allan Knott added that Oala’s great achievement was the result of good performances at overseas tournaments, meaning this should be inspiring to other up and coming umpires in PNG.