Hong Kong motivated by loss of ODI status

Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath has said that his side were determined to show that they could still compete with the top associate nations from Asia despite losing their ODI status earier this year.
Rath said that victories over Nepal and the United Arab Emirates, who both sport ODI status, were particularly enjoyable.
Speaking after the two-wicket victory over the UAE in the Asia Cup qualifying tournament final Rath said: “It is a great feeling.
“I think we wanted to show the world what we can do despite losing the ODI status.
“Beating both ODI nations (UAE and Nepal) quite comprehensively in this tournament, and beating one of them twice, just sort of explains how we play our cricket. And hopefully, to show the rest of the world that the standard of Associate cricket has improved over the last couple of years.”
Seamer Aizaz Khan said the poor showing at the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year that saw Hong Kong lose their ODI status motivated the team to earn a spot at the 2018 Asia Cup. The reward for Hong Kong will be massive clashes with Pakistan and India.
Khan said: “Obviously, we had a really bad tournament in Zimbabwe at the World Cup qualifiers, we lost our one-day status and it was really bad.
“After that, we worked really hard for this Asia Cup qualifiers. We worked really hard for two months back in Hong Kong.
“Coming here, we wanted to qualify for the Asia Cup, and we know we had a better team than we had performed in Zimbabwe. I think the way the guys played in the qualifier was amazing. It was a great tournament for us. Feels really good.”
Skipper Rath credited the character showed by his team who lost the first game of the qualifying tournament to minnows Malaysia.
“So it really meant a lot to the fellows, especially after going through a bit of a down period and then we lost the ODI status,” Rath said.
“It was something that the boys needed just to reassure ourselves that we can perform at this level and we can do it. All the hard work that has gone in this tournament over the last couple of months really has paid off. And the boys have shown really good character especially after losing that first game to Malaysia in the qualifiers.”
Latest
-
England
Heather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
England
Rain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
England
England’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
England
Ben Stokes: Workload of bowlers could be a game-changer
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.
-
England
Is Jos Buttler the right man for England white-ball captaincy?
Buttler has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in the job.
-
England
Jos Buttler takes over from Eoin Morgan as England’s limited-overs captain
Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
-
England
Dom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
England
James Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
England
England name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
News
Temporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.