Asia Cup 2018: 5 things to know about the Hong Kong team

Hong Kong defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final of the Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier in Kuala Lumpur to get a chance to compete at the Asia Cup 2018. In a rain-curtailed match, Hong Kong won a thrilling match by two wickets to qualify for the Asia Cup 2018.

Hong Kong was set 179 to win from 24 overs. Aizaz Khan was the pick of the bowlers with a five-wicket haul. In reply, Hong Kong never really felt comfortable in the chase but still managed to win the match. For the host nation UAE, opener Ashfaq Ahmed had scored 79 off just 51 balls while the rest of the batsmen failed to put up a decent contribution.

Hong Kong shattered the dream of the host nation to play at the Asia Cup 2018 in front of their home crowd. Hong Kong coach Simon Cook believes that cricket is largely an amateur sport in Hong Kong and even now, they play one week and then have three weeks off.

Very less number of matches in the domestic circuit makes it difficult to pick players for the national team. But still, a lot has been done over the years to promote the game. Contracts given to 13 players is a step in the right direction.

The average age of the current side is 25, which is kind of a peak age for a cricketer. The performance in the Asia Cup will help the sport receive the kind of attention it deserves back home.

Here we take a look at 5 things of note about the Hong Kong cricket team:

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#1 Participation in Asia Cup

They were comprehensively beaten by Pakistan in their first match

Hong Kong has taken part in the Asia Cup twice before. They have earlier participated in 2004 and 2008 editions. In the 2004 Asia Cup, they lost matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan and thus were eliminated from the tournament.

In the 2008 edition, they lost to India and Pakistan. Their journey in 2018 also looks tough after being drawn in Group A with India and Pakistan again.

#2 Highest Total

They scored 323 for four against Papua New Guinea

During the ICC World Cricket League Championship 2017 in Dubai, Hong Kong registered its highest team total. They scored 323 for four against Papua New Guinea. The team won the match by 93 runs.

It is to be seen how their batsmen perform against the seasoned bowling line-ups of India and Pakistan. They can take some inspiration from Afghanistan’s performance against Sri Lanka on Monday.

#3 Best Bowling

Kinchit Shah and Aizaz Khan are promising players

Off-break bowler Kinchit Shah, during an ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier match, scalped 4/10 in just 3.2 overs in March this year. This was the best bowling figures registered by a Hong Kong bowler.

#4 ODI Summary

Retaining good players has been an issue with Hong Kong

Hong Kong doesn’t have an ODI status as of now but has played 24 ODI matches. Out of these, they have managed to win just nine matches. They have defeated teams like Papua New Guinea, Scotland, and UAE twice while Afghanistan only once.

Given the fact that Afghanistan has come a long way after that defeat can give confidence to a team like Hong Kong.

#5 Highest Individual Score

Skipper Anshuman Rath has an Indian connection

Anshuman Rath hit his maiden One-Day century as Hong Kong amassed their highest-ever total on the way to a convincing victory over Papua New Guinea in Dubai in the ICC World Cricket League Championship.

Anushman might have been born in Hong Kong but his parents belong to Odisha in India and hence the clash against the Men in Blue holds an emotional importance for the 20-year-old.

This is the probable Hong Kong team to face India:

1. Nizakat Khan, 2. Anshuman Rath (capt), 3. Babar Hayat, 4. Kinchit Shah, 5. Christopher Carter, 6. Ehsan Khan, 7. Aizaz Khan, 8. Scott McKechnie (wk), 9. Tanwir Afzal, 10. Ehsan Nawaz, 11. Nadeem Ahmed.