In a further addition to an already busy 2016 calendar, Hong Kong men’s squad will host Papua New Guinea in a three-game One Day International series in November.

The fixtures will be the first ODI series hosted in Hong Kong outside of ICC World Cricket League and will be played at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Mong Kok.

The three game series will be played on Friday November 4, Sunday November 6 and Tuesday November 8.

Papua New Guinea hosted Hong Kong in Townsville for their first ever ODI's, which saw PNG play some quality cricket and win the series 2-nil.

Director of Cricket Charlie Burke said the series will be another step forward in what is already a strong relationship between the two emerging regions.

“PNG and Hong Kong have both progressed through the divisions together over the last few years,” Burke said.

“It was only in 2010 when we met in Division 3 and since we have both emerged to register some excellent results World Cricket League and World Cup qualifiers.”

“Our fans deserve to witness two quality sides that have played in some great battles as well as an opportunity to host PNG, who put on a great series in Townsville."

“The bigger picture is to continue preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2018.”

The series will be played during a busy period for Hong Kong, following a three-week tour of Ireland and Scotland and right before a trip away to play Kenya in two ICC WCLC matches.

Head Coach Simon Cook says the busy schedule will allow selectors to test the depth of what is now an extended full-time squad.

“We have played PNG a lot over the years and the players have detailed knowledge of each other which always makes for an interesting series,” Cook said.

“They have some good players that can take the game away from you if you let them so we will have to be on top of our game to beat them.”

“As we speak our players are currently in a strength phase of their training program which is going really well so we should be seeing a faster, stronger and more durable Hong Kong squad leading into this really busy 6 month period.”

香港男子板球隊將於今年11月主場迎戰巴布亞新幾內亞，在緊湊的2016賽程中增添三場一日制國際賽。

比賽是「國際板球理事會世界板球聯賽」以外，香港首次舉辦之國際一日賽。賽事將再次於天光道板球場舉行。

三場的系列賽將於11月4、6及8日（星期五、日及二）舉行。

巴布亞新幾內亞曾於湯斯維爾市主場迎戰港隊，當時是該隊首次出戰一日制國際賽。巴布亞新幾內亞以場數二比零擊敗港隊。

香港板球總會板球總監貝卓禮（Charlie Burke）認為此系列賽將會進一步鞏固兩支新晉球隊的合作關係：「巴布亞新幾內亞與香港均於過去數年有大幅的進步。2010年兩隊在第三組別碰頭，在『國際板球理事會世界板球聯賽』及世界盃外圍賽均取得優異成績。」

「香港球迷將可以親身欣賞兩支具實力的球隊比拼。巴布亞新幾內亞之前主場交出好表現，我們今次能夠迎戰他們，實屬榮幸。」

「這系列賽的長遠目標是為2018年的世界盃外圍賽作準備。」

系列賽將會是港隊繁忙賽程的一部分。賽事舉行前港隊將會完成三星期的愛爾蘭及蘇格蘭巡迴賽，而賽後則會到海外對戰肯雅。

港隊主教練曲世民指出，繁忙的賽程將會測試這支全職球隊的深度：「我們在往年多次對陣巴布亞新幾內亞，兩隊都對對方很熟悉，令系列賽變得有趣。他們的主力球員能夠奪去我們的優勢，所以我們一定要嚴陣以待。」

「港隊成員現在正集中於力量上的訓練，進展良好，港隊將會變得更快、更強、更有耐力，去迎接之後繁忙的六個月賽程。」