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22日 05月
Ahead of what shapes as a crucial 12 months, Cricket Hong Kong coach Simon Cook has unveiled the men's squads that will form the pool of players vying for a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers in 2019.
Prior to that Hong Kong will need to ensure positive results in their ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Nepal (Oct) and PNG (Dec) with another 8-team Asia T20 tournament likely to also be played at home in December.
The squad identifies the 16 players who have earned contracts with Cricket Hong Kong or the Hong Kong Sports Institute which will again provide funding to allow full-time training.
"As a group of selectors we believe these 44 players are the best players in Hong Kong and are the next in line for the immediate future," coach Simon Cook said.
"There are three under-16s in there who might be more long term and there are others that could come into consideration but we are confident in this group."
"The national squad will train up to 30 hours a week and the 'A' squad will generally train around 8 hours a week, which includes Conditioning and technical sessions."
The national squad will consist of 29 players this year with 10 players being based overseas.
Promoted into a full-time contract for the first time is Shahid Wasif, with the Diasqua Little Sai Wan batsman impressing in his first 12 months of international cricket. "His attitude and natural ability have impressed all that have come into contact with him and we are looking for the same level of improvement over the next 12 months as we near the end of the WCL cycle and World Cup Qualifiers, Cook said. Promotions from the National A squad include Umar Mohammad, Mohammad Awias and Haroon Arshad.
In the A squad, there are a number of new faces to come in, with Simon Cook pleased to add two more CHK Sportsroad Dragons players after their improved season. "The continued progression of the Dragons team has meant that this year we are able to select Jason Lui and Sigfried Wai into the program on merit," Cook said.
"We hope that these two players will progress in the same way as Ming has done, this is quantified by looking at Ming’s Sunday league bowling performances this year which have been outstanding and highlights why he deserves his national squad position."
"Both have proved that they have the potential going forward and have much more to come." "With the profile of Hong Kong Cricket at an all-time high the pool of players that the selectors can choose from is not just national anymore but global."
"This means that players now have to work really hard to get into any Hong Kong representative squad and work even harder to stay there. This has been highlighted with 7 players being removed from our national squads as new players pass them by and are given the chance to excel."
Hong Kong Contracted players
National Squad
Hong Kong A squad
Club Guide
KCC - Kowloon Cricket ClubDLSWCC - Diasqua Little Sai Wan HKCC - Hong Kong Cricket ClubPACC - Pakistan Association Cricket ClubUSRC - United Services Recreation ClubVGB - VagabondsSLCC - The Sri Lankan's Cricket ClubCHK Dragons - Cricket Hong Kong Sportsroad Dragons