Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal was selected as the first pick in the inaugural DTC HK T20 Blitz draft held today.

Afzal will now represent the Rude Bar Island Warriors, while hard-hitting batsman Babar Hayat was taken as the second selection by the Kowloon Cantons.

Nizakat Khan went third to the Hung Hom JD Jaguars, while Anshuman Rath was the final selection in the first round of picks when he was picked up by the GII Lantau Galaxy Riders.

Each franchise had the opportunity to select three Hong Kong national squad players, one under-19 player and a minimum of five domestic Premier League players.

All the Hong Kong men’s squad were in attendance at the draft held at Rude Bar with Afzal also assisting with selections in the draft once he’d been picked.

“It’s a really exciting concept and the players are looking forward to it,” Afzal said.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd into the ground and we put on a good show, I’m looking forward to playing with my new team.”

Ryan Campbell was signed by the Cantons as a player/coach before the draft and was happy with the squad his franchise had assembled.

“Sounds like everyone is happy with their squad, but we got the picks we really wanted,” Campbell said.

“I think we’ve got the match winners with both bat and ball so I’m very, very happy with the team.”

“I think the concept is fantastic and you just have to see the reactions of the people that are excited about it and the kids have something look forward to and will start following teams and hopefully want to play for one of them.”

HKCA CEO Tim Cutler was also picked up by the Cantons.

The tournament will be played from the 27^th to 29^th of May at Tin Kwong Rd Recreation Ground.