World Twenty20 team preview: Hong Kong
Lined with expatriates vast and varied, eager to justify their recently-acquired ODI status and buoyed by Friday's warm-up fixture victory over the Netherlands, Hong Kong have gathered some solid momentum.
<b>Captain:</b> Jamie Atkinson<br><b>Coach:</b> Charlie Burke<br><b>WT20 Best:</b> First time entrants
<b>Overview</b><br>Lined with expatriates vast and varied, eager to justify their recently-acquired ODI status and buoyed by Friday's warm-up fixture victory over the Netherlands, Hong Kong have gathered some solid momentum ahead of a welcome return to the world stage.
<b>Key Batsman</b><br>At just 19-years-old, Mark Champan has impressed at most representative levels, including Hong Kong Under-15 and Under-19. The proud recipient of back-to-back half-centuries ahead of the tournament, the left-hander presents plenty of promise.
<b>Key Bowler</b><br>Born in Rawalpindi and pinpointed for a big future during a sound stint for Pakistan Under-19, righ-arm seamer Haseeb Amjad screamed through figures of six for 21 in one delivery short of four overs recently.
<b>Likely Benchwarmer</b><br>Former captain Najeeb Amar, at the grand old age of almost 43 years old, has been recalled – and will find it tough to crack the nod for an XI that has largely moved on since his heyday.
<b>Cricket365's Prediction</b><br>Dominance against the Dutch suggests Hong Kong will trump Nepal, heavily, but are not likely to outgun an Afghanistan or Bangladesh unit increasingly adept in such a shotgun format.
<b>They Said:</b> "Bangladesh are the favorites in our group. There is no pressure on us; at least that's how we are going to think about it. It is quite a dangerous thing for our opponents. It is a great moment for Hong Kong to qualify for the World T20 for the first time. We have had some good preparation." – captain <b>Jamie Atkinson</b>.
<b>Squad:</b> Jamie Atkinson, Waqas Barkat, Mark Chapman, Irfan Ahmed, Nadeem Ahmed, Haseeb Amjad, Tanwir Afzal, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Najeeb Amar, Munir Dar, Ehsan Nawaz, Roy Lamsam, Kinchit Shah.
<b>Fixtures</b><br>16 February: v Nepal, Chittagong<br>18 February: v Afghanistan, Chittagong<br>20 February: v Bangladesh, Chittagong
Latest
-
NewsEngland’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.
-
NewsProteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
NewsSmith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
NewsEngland warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
NewsJack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
NewsJonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
NewsHeather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
NewsClaire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
NewsPooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
NewsAndrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.