Hong Kong cricket ‘fighters’ targeting global recognition ahead of crunch games

Date:

Zeeshan Ali said Hong Kong were aching to escape the backwaters of Challenge League cricket and “show what we are capable of” on the world stage.

Hong Kong begin the latest three-year Challenge League B cycle with five one-day matches over the next nine days in Uganda.

Head coach Simon Willis and captain Nizakat Khan have united to emphasise the importance of the competition, which provides a potential gateway to Hong Kong recapturing their one-day international status and all the benefits that would bring for the city’s players and administrators.

Swashbuckling opening batsman Ali was one of three players, along with Nizakat and spin-bowler Ehsan Khan, who dashed to East Africa from the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, which finished on Sunday, for their team’s first game against Bahrain on Thursday.

They meet Italy two days later and face the hosts the following day. Games against Tanzania and Singapore follow next Tuesday and Friday, respectively.

Zeeshan Ali is enjoying a late-career renaissance after taking the wicketkeeping gloves for Hong Kong. Photo: CHKC

A player who has enjoyed a late-career renaissance after claiming the wicketkeeper’s gloves following Willis’s appointment in March 2023, Ali acknowledged Challenge League audiences were typically limited to cricket diehards.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Perry: Patriots don’t view Marcus Jones as an offensive player

Perry: Patriots don't view Marcus Jones as an offensive...

Giants release Daniel Jones after QB requested to move on following benching

Daniel Jones has been released by the New York...

‘Accomplished performance’ from Amorim

This was a highly accomplished and assured first media...

Super Micro stock set to notch 70% weekly gain as company hires new auditor

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock...