World Twenty20 team preview: Hong Kong

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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

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