Kaia Arua

{{Short description|Papua New Guinean cricketer (1990–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Kaia Arua

| female = true

| image =

| country = Papua New Guinea

| international = true

| fullname = Kaia Arua

| birth_date = {{birth date|1990|10|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|4|4|1990|10|27|df=yes}}

| death_place = Korobosea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm wrist-spin

| T20Idebutdate = 7 July

| T20Idebutyear = 2018

| T20Idebutagainst = Bangladesh

| T20Icap = 2

| lastT20Idate = 19 January

| lastT20Iyear = 2024

| lastT20Iagainst = Fiji

| date = 30 September 2019

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/944325.html ESPNcricinfo

| module = {{Infobox medal templates | titlestyle = background-color: lightsteelblue; | expand=yes

| medals = {{MedalCountry| {{PNG}}}}

{{MedalSport|Women's Cricket}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pacific Games}}

{{MedalSilver|2019 Apia|Twenty20 International}}

}}

}}

Kaia Arua (27 October 1990 – 4 April 2024) was a Papua New Guinean cricketer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/944325.html |title=Kaia Arua |access-date=13 February 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}{{cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/arua-to-lead-lewas-to-t20/ |title=Arua to lead Lewas to T20 |work=Post Courier |access-date=3 November 2021}} A left-arm wrist-spinner, she played for the Papua New Guinea women's national cricket team in the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in February 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1073404.html |title=ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, 4th Match, Group B: Bangladesh Women v Papua New Guinea Women at Colombo (CCC), Feb 7, 2017 |access-date=13 February 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}

In June 2018, she was named in Papua New Guinea's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/761671 |title=ICC announces umpire and referee appointments for ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier 2018 |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=27 June 2018}} She made her Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20 Qualifier on 7 July 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1147709.html |title=3rd Match, Group A, ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier at Utrecht, Jul 7 2018 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=7 July 2018}} She captained the side for the match against Ireland on 12 July 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/784686 |title=Ireland Women qualify for WT20 |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=12 July 2018}}

In July 2018, she was named in the ICC Women's Global Development Squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/785532 |title=Meet the Global Development Squad |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=15 July 2018}} In November 2018, she was again named in the Women's Global Development Squad, to play fixtures against Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) clubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/911975 |title=Second Women's Global Development Squad heads to Rebel Women's Big Bash League |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=14 November 2018}}

In April 2019, she was named as the captain of Papua New Guinea's squad for the 2019 ICC Women's Qualifier EAP tournament in Vanuatu.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1204489 |title=Just two steps away from World Cup spots for teams in Women's Qualifiers |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 April 2019}} In Papua New Guinea's penultimate match of the tournament, against Japan, she took her first five-wicket haul in T20Is.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/stage-set-for-scintillating-final-day-in-vanuatu/56322.htm |title=Stage Set for Scintillating Final Day in Vanuatu |work=Cricket World |access-date=9 May 2019}}

In August 2019, she was named as the captain of Papua New Guinea's squad for the 2019 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/lewas-squad-named-tour-scotland/ |title=Lewas squad named for tour of Scotland |work=Post Courier |access-date=20 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1327656 |title=Captains ready for Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=28 August 2019}} In October 2019, she was named in the Women's Global Development Squad, ahead of a five-match series in Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1366772 |title=Bismah to lead Women's Global Development Squad |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=3 October 2019}} In October 2021, she was named in Papua New Guinea's team for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.{{cite web|url=https://czarsportzauto.com/papua-new-guinea-squad-announced-for-womens-world-cup-qualifiers-in-november-2021/ |title=Papua New Guinea squad announced for Women's World Cup qualifiers in November 2021 |work=Czarsportz |access-date=12 October 2021}} Her spell of 5/7 in 4 overs against Japan is the second-best bowling figure by a PNG cricketer.

Arua died in Port Moresby General Hospital on 4 April 2024, at the age of 33, leaving a son and a daughter.{{cite news |title=Papua New Guinea all-rounder Kaia Arua dies, aged 33 |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/papua-new-guinea-all-rounder-kaia-arua-dies-aged-33 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=International Cricket Council |date=4 April 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Cricket World In Shock As PNG All-Rounder Passes Away At 33 |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-in-shock-as-png-all-rounder-passes-away-at-33-article-109027971 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=TimesNow |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Papua New Guinea's Legendary All-rounder Kaia Arua Dies, Aged 33 - News18 |url=https://www.news18.com/cricket/papua-new-guineas-legendary-all-rounder-kaia-arua-dies-aged-33-8839539.html |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=NEWS18 |language=en}}