Some of the biggest names in Twenty20 cricket have arrived in Hong Kong for the second edition of the DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz. 25 international stars will join local players in five days of action from the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon. With the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Shahid Afridi, Brian Lara, Darren Sammy and Misbah ul Haq in town it is a hugely exciting week ahead for cricket in Hong Kong.

One of the many big names to make the trip to Hong Kong to play cricket’s highest intensity format is Ian Bell. The England man has played 118 Test matches for his country, but he also has a T20 pedigree. He was a member of the Perth Scorchers team that won this season’s Big Bash tournament in Australia. He is very excited to be playing cricket before the start of the English domestic season.

“A couple of friends live out here and asked me to come and play. It tags into the start of the season with me because we go straight to Dubai for pre-season,” Bell said. “It is just an opportunity to play cricket outside, which is great. Warwickshire were pretty happy with me to go, and rather than being at an indoor school in England it is another week in the sun.”

Bell will be playing for the HKI United team, along with World T20 winner Samuel Badree. The West Indian spinner has garnered a reputation as one of the best performers in the T20 format, especially in the opening overs. Badree says he is relishing the chance to play cricket somewhere new.

“It is a new experience, it is something I have never done before. As a cricketer you want to experience as much as you can, the opportunity to came my way so I decided to take it,” Badree said.

Playing with these superstar names is a fantastic opportunity for the up and coming players in the Hong Kong set up, and Badree says he is hopeful that he can pass on some of his knowledge to his new team mates.

“With my experience of having played in many leagues around the world, by sharing a dressing room with these guys they can learn a few things. They can ask me questions and I can share my experiences with them. That is what we are here for, to play but also to share our experience with the young Hong Kong players and hopefully they can go from strength to strength.”

New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder echoed those sentiments, saying part of the task of any overseas player is to help develop talent, and he is hopeful of doing that for his Galaxy Gladiators Lantau teammates.

“I guess if [the local players] can learn anything from me then I have done my job in a place like this,” Ryder said.

West Indian bowler Rayad Emrit said that the chance to play in Hong Kong was just another way for him to showcase his talents to the international selectors, and he hopes playing for the City Kaitak team can help him do just that. The 35-year-old seamer has not played for his country since 2007, but he has not given up hope of making a return to the side.

“I was asked by Robin Singh, who was my coach at Barbados Tridents, to come and I grasped the opportunity with both hands. T20 cricket is franchise cricket now, it is another opportunity. Hopefully playing in these leagues can get me back playing for the West Indies,” Emrit said.

Dwayne Smith, the big hitting West Indian batsman who has played for three teams at the Indian Premier League, says curiosity played a part in his decision to sign for the Kowloon Cantons. Travelling is both a benefit and a downside to the life of a T20 player, but the chance to see one of the most famous cities in the world attracted Smith.

“I’ve never been, I’ve always landed here at the airport connecting to somewhere else. So far, so good. The travel comes along with the profession so you have to deal with it, but I am up for it and I am hoping it is a good tournament.” Smith said.

The action gets underway on Wednesday 8th March, with the final taking place on Sunday 12th March. Tickets are available here. If you can’t make it to watch at the ground the games will be streamed live and for free on the Cricket Hong Kong YouTube and Facebook pages.