Articles

National Squad named for 2010-11

The Hong Kong National Selectors have named the 22 players that will form the National Squad for the coming 12 months. This is separate to the Asian Games squad, though there are a number of players appearing in both squads.

The Hong Kong National Selectors have announced the following squad of 22 players that will be the National Squad for the coming 12 months. This is separate to the Asian Games squad, although a number of players appear in both squads.
The 22-man National Squad is: Nadeem Ahmed, Irfan Ahmed, Niaz Ali, Najeeb Amar, James Atkinson, Waqas Barkat, Hussain Butt, Mark Chapman, Tabarak Dar, Munir Dar, Waqar Darwood, Ilyas Gull, Shakeel Haq, Nizakat Khan, Asif Khan, Anas Khan, Adil Khan, Courtney Kruger, Roy Lamsam, Nicholas Lau, Phil Pemberton, Max Tucker.
The following three players are also named as development players: Ashish Ghadia, Miten Khatri, Li Ka Ming.
"The squad is a reflection of what Hong Kong needs in the coming 2 to 3 years and is looking not just at the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in January but also the future of Hong Kong Cricket."
Charle Burke - Hong Kong National Coach
With regards to the named squad, Hong Kong National Coach Charlie Burke said "The national squad in my view is the best available squad and is a great mix of senior and emerging players. The squad is a reflection of what Hong Kong needs in the coming 2 to 3 years and is looking not just at the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in January but also the future of Hong Kong Cricket."
"It is my plan to ensure we gain momentum and not just a quick fix for one tournament. We must develop players and ensure we give opportunity to younger players so we don't have a big exit of senior players at the one time," he added.
Burke indicated that some of Hong Kong's senior players such as Tabarak Dar, Ilyas Gull and Munir Dar may be playing in their last 12 to 24 months. He warned that no one's places should be taken for granted and that all players will need to earn their spots in any final team selection.
"No player is a certain starter come January. Hard work, commitment and dominating results at Sunday League cricket will give them every opportunity to represent Hong Kong in the ICC event," said Burke.
Burke and his chargers are facing a very busy six months of cricket. At the end of August, a squad made up mostly of players named to represent Hong Kong at the Asian Games will travel to Papua New Guinea to play in the Air Niugini International Super Series. In September, the Footscray Edgewater Cricket Club, a premier league team from Victoria, Australia, will play a series of matches against the national squad as part of Hong Kong's preparation for the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament to be held in Hong Kong and China in late January 2010. Hong Kong's men's and women's teams while participate in the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November and then in December, another tour will be arranged for those players selected to represent Hong Kong in the ICC WCL Division 3 event.
Burke will also travel with the Hong Kong Under-19 Women's team to Singapore in October to contest the ACC Under-19 Women's Championships and, of course, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will be held at Kowloon Cricket Club in early November.
Along side this, the Hong Kong domestic season will be in full swing with a new Twenty20 Sunday Cup competition added to the Saturday League and Sunday League competitions. The new domestic cricket season kicks off on 11th September 2010.