The Hong Kong Cricket Association is delighted to announce that the Hong Kong Sports Institute will once again support the Hong Kong Men’s Cricket team in 2016-17.

The team became eligible for HKSI’s Individual Athletes Support Scheme after qualifying for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.

The partnership with HKSI will fund a full-time training program for the men’s team and play a pivotal role in maintaining Hong Kong’s ODI status.

“The support is vital in our quest to prepare as well as we possibly can for the World Cup Qualifiers and Asian Games in 2018,” HKCA Director of Cricket Charlie Burke said.

“HKSI support to the athletes and the overall program budget allows more time with the athletes and we also get the access and use of the wonderful facility and professional resources in Fo Tan.”

“We currently sit second on the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) and have been as high as 10th on the T20i table in the last 6 months. It is a huge 12 months to ensure we not only maintain this position but also start climbing the rankings. We will have around 4-6 players based overseas during our off-season playing in the UK and India which will assist their development ahead of our next International tour in Ireland and Scotland,” added Burke.

The Hong Kong Sports Institute say the partnership is recognition for the improvement in results on the global stage in recent years.

“The Hong Kong Cricket team has been performing well in recent years and we hope that with increased support from the HKSI and the on-going effort of the HK Cricket Association, our Cricket players’ standard will be greatly enhanced,” said Margaret Siu, HKSI Director of High Performance Management.

“Various supports from the Scheme include the provision of direct financial support (monthly grant to the team members), sports science and medicine services, strength and conditioning support, use of HKSI’s facilities, and various athlete development programmes.”

Following a confirmation of the partnership, Hong Kong Cricket Association are pleased to announce the following contracted players for 2016-17:

(Both HKCA and HKSI full-time contracts)

Tanwir Afzal (阿夫扎)

Babar Hayat (巴巴凱逸)

Aizaz Khan (艾扎茲)

(HKSI full-time Contracts)

Ehsan Nawaz (納瓦茲)

Mark Chapman (查普曼)

Kinchit Shah (金赤沙)

Nizakat Khan (穆罕默德汗)

Waqas Khan (瓦格斯汗)

Anshuman Rath (阿舒曼華夫)

Nadeem Ahmed (簡均倍)

(HKCA full-time contracts)

Chris Carter (基斯卡達)

Adil Mehmood (亞迪)

(HKCA rookie contracts)

Li Kai Ming (李啟銘)

Giacomo Lamplough (積卡姆)

Tanveer Ahmed (廷伊華)

香港板球總會宣布，香港體育學院將於2016－17年度再次向香港男子板球隊提供支援。

香港隊於去年取得「2016世界板球理事會20回合制板球世界賽」資格，因而取得體院「個別精英運動員資助計劃」資格。

是次合作將會贊助香港隊的全職訓練計劃，對港隊保持「一日制板球國際賽」資格有重要幫助。

本會板球總監貝卓禮（Charlie Burke）表示：「今次體院的支援，對港隊爭取板球世界杯及2018亞運會資格極為重要。」

「除了對球員的支援，體院對球隊整個訓練計劃的贊助亦非常重要，讓球員可以更專注於訓練，並讓他們運用體院一流的設施及資源。」

貝卓禮補充道：「港隊暫時於世界板球冠軍聯賽（World Cricket League Championship）積分榜排第二，而球隊於20回合制的世界排名亦在過去六個月內曾上升至第10位。在未來的12個月，港隊不但要保持排名，更會爭取在各項排名攀升。在稍後的休季期間，港隊中的四至六名球員將會到英國及印度作賽，為其後面對愛爾蘭及蘇格蘭的國際賽做好準備。」

香港體育學院指，是次合作是對香港板球隊近年國際賽成績的肯定。

香港體育學院精英培訓事務總監蕭宛華女士表示：「香港板球隊近年表現出色，我們希望各位隊員在體院增加的支援，以及香港板球總會長久的努力下，能夠在表現上有顯著的提升。」

「是次資助計劃包括對球員每月的直接經濟資助、運動科學及醫療服務、體能支援、體院設施及各種運動員發展計劃。」

得到體院確認合作關係後，香港板球總會現公佈2016－17年度合約球員名單：

（同時獲香港板球總會及香港體育學院資助之全職球員）

阿夫扎（Tanwir Afzal）

巴巴凱逸（Babar Hayat）

艾扎茲（Aizaz Khan）

（香港體育學院資助之全職球員）

納瓦茲 (Nawaz Ehsan)

查普曼（Mark Chapman）

金赤沙（Kinchit Shah）

穆罕默德汗（Nizakat Khan）

瓦格斯汗（Waqas Khan）

阿舒曼華夫（Anshuman Rath）

簡均倍（Nadeem Ahmed）

（香港板球總會資助之全職球員）

基斯卡達（Chris Carter）

亞迪（Adil Mehmood）

（香港板球總會資助之兼職球員）

李啟銘（Ming Li）

積卡姆（Giacomo Lamplough）

廷伊華（Tanveer Ahmed）