International Cricket

PNG, Fiji & Vanuatu EAP Tri-Series 2026-27 Fixtures Decoded

Rohan Bhatia 19 May 2026 Updated 19 May 2026 ~5 min read ~907 words

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ICC East Asia Pacific has confirmed the 2026-27 EAP tri-series schedule, with Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu meeting across a nine-match T20I block split between Port Moresby, Suva and Port Vila. The series doubles as the T20 WC 2028 pathway-event for the EAP region, with the top finisher claiming the automatic qualifier slot and the second-place side advancing to the global qualifier. With PNG's Assad Vala-led side defending their EAP top-rank, Fiji's improving Suva-based unit chasing, and Vanuatu's Patrick Matautaava growing his roster, this is the most competitive EAP block in a decade. Here is the full day-by-day decode, venue rotation, broadcast routing and travel logistics.

Port Moresby leg, July 4-10

PNG hosts the opening leg at Amini Park, Port Moresby, with all three sides playing each other twice across six T20Is in seven days. Fixtures are PNG vs Fiji (July 4), PNG vs Vanuatu (July 5), Fiji vs Vanuatu (July 7), PNG vs Fiji (July 8), PNG vs Vanuatu (July 9) and Fiji vs Vanuatu (July 10). Start time is 14:00 PNG local for all six fixtures to use the cooler afternoon temperatures. Amini Park's pitch panel has been refurbished since November 2025, with new drop-in surfaces installed for the 2025-26 EAP domestic season. Capacity is 5,500, with pop-up family stands taking the PNG-Fiji weekend to 7,800. Tickets opened at PGK 25 in general admission and PGK 95 in the new corporate hospitality tier.

Suva and Port Vila legs, July 18-30

Fiji hosts the second leg at Albert Park, Suva, July 18-23, also with six T20Is rotating through the three sides. The Suva pitches play slower and grippier than Port Moresby, giving the tournament a deliberate condition-swing across legs. Vanuatu rounds out the tri-series with the final three-match block at Independence Park, Port Vila (July 27, 29, 30), with each side playing one fixture. Vanuatu's ground capacity is the smallest at 2,800, and the host board has confirmed free general-admission tickets to drive grassroots attendance. The Port Vila pitches are the fastest of the three venues, traditionally suiting the Vanuatu seam attack. The full 15-match tri-series doubles as both the EAP T20I rankings driver and the T20 WC 2028 pathway qualifier.

Pathway maths and squad notes

The T20 WC 2028 pathway maths is sharp: the top-place side after 15 fixtures takes the EAP automatic qualifier slot. PNG goes in as defending leaders, with captain Assad Vala, opener Tony Ura and quick John Kariko forming the spine. Fiji's rebuilding squad is led by Peniasi Cakacaka with the Tikoisuva brothers in the seam attack. Vanuatu's captain Patrick Matautaava heads a side built around the spin trio of Andrew Mansale, Jelany Chilia and Nalin Nipiko. The PNG board has confirmed full-strength selection for all six home and away fixtures. Fiji and Vanuatu both have rotation plans to protect first-choice attacks across the compressed July window. Match officials are appointed via the ICC's EAP panel, with two of the umpires on the international development panel.

Broadcast routing and travel

Broadcast routing is built around the ICC pathway feed, which streams live to ICC.tv in 80-plus markets. FanCode takes the India rights. EMTV in PNG, Fiji TV and Vanuatu Broadcasting Television handle the in-country free-to-air feeds. A regional package with Sky Pacific covers the broader Pacific Islands market. Each fixture meets the ICC's six-camera production minimum, with the PNG-Fiji weekend at Amini Park stepping up to an eight-camera plus drone rig. Travel logistics use direct Air Niugini, Fiji Airways and Air Vanuatu charters, with a 28-person traveling-party cap. The compressed five-week footprint means each side plays at home, away, and at the neutral leg, with two rest days between fixtures.

What it means

The 2026-27 EAP tri-series is the most consequential pathway event the region has hosted in a decade. The top finisher claims an automatic T20 WC 2028 berth, the second-place side advances to the global qualifier, and the third-place finisher restarts the cycle. PNG goes in as favourites, but Fiji's home leg at Suva is the dark-horse opportunity, and Vanuatu's spin-heavy attack has historically punched above its weight at Port Vila. Watch the PNG-Fiji opening day at Amini Park, that fixture sets the tone for the whole 15-match block.