Hong Kong’s 10-day tour of Australia, which kicks off with Sunday’s back-to-back Twenty20 games against the Sydney Thunder at Wade Park, shapes as a crucial facet of the burgeoning side’s development as a cricketing nation.
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Easily overlooked as a cricketing nation, Hong Kong has actually been playing cricket since the British introduced the sport there in 1840 and while progression has taken time, Cricket Hong Kong chief executive Tim Cutler – an Australian – said the side is a place to seriously test the sides it will play over the next week-and-a-half.
That, obviously, starts with the Sydney Thunder in Orange.
“The more quality cricket we can get, the better,” Cutler told Cricbuzz, speaking about the importance of Hong Kong’s trip.
“We are not only getting T20 match practice in … we will also be playing some longer form cricket during the tour.
“2017 is a crucial year in the World Cup cycle – we have three rounds of World Cricket League Championship and Intercontinental Cup, these final three rounds deciding who goes to the Cricket World Cup Qualifer and who has to go back and play a cut-throat division two tournament.
It's a great chance for emerging nations to come up against professional franchise-style teams.
- Hong Kong Cricket chief executive Tim Cutler.
“It's a great chance for emerging nations to come up against professional franchise-style teams, which can only assist their development.
“It is a great opportunity for challenger nations to get in front of the fans. The more eyeballs on emerging cricket, the better.”
The Thunder games and Australian tour continues Hong Kong’s rapid rise in the cricketing world, which had the side ranked as high as No.10 in the world in T20 cricket, and on the cusp of an appearance at the last 50-over World Cup.
Sunday’s games kick off at 12.30pm and 4pm, before Hong Kong moves on to Sydney to play the NSW second XI and then up to Coffs Harbour to play the Sydney Sixers.
The 14-man squad will all see Wade Park, with Hong Kong’s best set to play both games while developing players like Jason Lui will also be given a chance.
HONG KONG: Babar Hayat ©, Aizaz Khan, Tanwir Afzal, Nadeem Ahmed, Tanveer Ahmed, Christopher Carter, Ehsan Khan, Nizakat Khan, Waqas Khan, Jason Lui, Kyle Christie, Kinchit Shah, Karandeep Singh, Shahid Wasif
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
