Hong Kong Squad for the ACC Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018- 27^th August -8^th September 2018

Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) selectors today have announced the squad for the Asia Cup Qualifiers to be held in Malaysia on 27^th August - 8^th September 2018.

Babar Hayat has once again been named as Captain and will lead the team in the qualifiers. Fast bowling all-rounder Haroon Arshad and leg spin bowler Jhatha Subramanyan provide fresh energy and an abundance of skill to the squad while middle order batsman Waqas Khan has made a comeback in the squad after being left out of the World Cup Qualifiers held in March 2018.

Hong Kong Squad for the ACC Asia Cup Qualifiers 2018

1) Babar Hayat (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club) (Captain)

2) Anshuman Rath (Hong Kong Cricket Club) (Vice Captain)

3) Tanwir Afzal (Pakistan Association Cricket Club)

4) Nadeem Ahmed (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

5) Haroon Arshad (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

6) Chris Carter (Kowloon Cricket Club)

7) Aizaz Khan (Kowloon Cricket Club)

8) Ehsan Khan (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

9) Nizakat Khan (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

10) Waqas Khan (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

11) Cameron McAuslan (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

12) Scott McKechnie (Kowloon Cricket Club)

13) Ehsan Nawaz (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

14) Kinchit Shah (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

15) Jhatha Subramanyan (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

Reserve Players

1) Aftab Ahmed (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

2) Tanveer Ahmed (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

3) Raag Kapur (Hong Kong Cricket Club)

4) Ghazanfar Mohammad (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

5) Shahid Wasif (Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket Club)

Officials

Head Coach: Simon Cook

Assistant Coach: TBC

Team Manager: Jawaid Iqbal

Team Analyst: Chris Pickett

Physio: Sarah Whitehead



CHK’s Chairman of Selectors Tabarak Dar is pleased with the make-up of the squad

“This would have to be one of the strongest and well balanced Hong Kong squads which we have seen for some time. The squad has a great depth of spin bowling options available which will be very useful in Malaysia where traditionally spin has played a significant role”.

“The Inclusion of Kinchit Shah and Cameron McAuslan will provide the squad with a greater balance in the top order and there is there is a great opportunity for the squad to play to their full potential and win the qualifiers and progress to the ACC Asia Cup where the likes of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan lie in wait”.

CHK’s Head Coach Simon Cook has been working hard with the players during the post season break and is equally excited by the squad assembled in conditions which should encourage the team to perform to their highest potential.

“Heading into a new International season is always exciting, the players have been training hard both in Hong Kong and also abroad where a number have been playing. There is no doubt as a squad we are now fitter than we ever have been and working with THEi has been instrumental in that”

“There are some new faces in the ACC Asia Cup squad, notably Jhatha Subramanyan. I was pleased to see that his name was included with conditions due to be spin friendly and his attacking nature will give Babar some attacking options in the middle phase of the innings”

“No tournament is easy and this will be a big challenge for all teams with only the winner going through to Asia Cup 2018” add Simon Cook

Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat fresh from being a part of the winning Vancouver Knights team in the recently completed Global T20 competition held in Canada is equally excited in taking on the upcoming challenges in Malaysia;

“It’s good to be playing international cricket after a long break. Things didn’t go our way at The World Cup Qualifiers in March, we are much better players then how we performed and are determined to start the new international season off in the right manner. As a squad, we have worked hard during the off season on our fitness and skills and we have best squad available to do well at The ACC Asia Cup qualifiers”

The Hong Kong Team will depart to Malaysia on 17^th August 2018 for a preparation tour where they will play 3-4 practices matches against local opposition and make use of the turf training wickets in Kuala Lumpur

Hong Kong will join hosts Malaysia, UAE, Nepal, Singapore and Oman in a 6 team tournament with only the winner going on to participate in the 2018 Asia Cup to be held in the UAE from 13^th-27^th September. The teams will play in a round robin format with the top 2 placed teams making their way to the final to be held at the picturesque Kinrara Oval on Thursday 6^th September.

The full list of fixtures can be seen below:

Details of the matches can be obtained by using the Official ACC cricket website:

http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php