Despite the fact that Hong Kong has been represented twice in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the current form of the T20 in Hong Kong prior to the 2019 qualifier gives cause for concern.
Hong Kong, the heavyweight in Associate Cricket, will enter the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 with the experience that they have previously won. However, they are not sure before the 14-man tournament. Their return to T20 cricket in the last three years was anything but ideal with just one win in eight games during this period.
Hong Kong, which has been playing T20I cricket since 2014, is one of the most experienced teams competing in Dubai this year. They will also be boosted by their spirited performance in the 2018 Asian Cup against teams such as India and Pakistan before the qualifier.
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How did they get in?
The teams that finished 11th to 16th in the T20I team ranking for the ICC men on 31st December 2018 automatically took part in the T20 World Cup 2019 qualifier. Hong Kong was one of them.
T20 World Cup History
Hong Kong qualified for the last two editions of the men’s ICC-T20 World Cup in 2014 and 2016 when they retired in the group stage. They have alone won in the competition, from two wickets against Bangladesh in the 2014 edition.
Key Players
Nizakat Khan: One of Hong Kong’s most successful runscorer, Nizakat is the most reliable striker in his lineup. He is the second-highest scorer in T20I cricket and the highest in the current squad. Since January 2018 he has completed 254 international races in ten missions.
One to watch
Haroon Arshad: The 20-year-old has been in ominous form since his T20I debut earlier this month, scoring 132 runs with an average of 66. He completes his runs at a rate of 146.66 and 19 *, 45 and 68 in his first three games for Hong Kong, which is an X-factor in their lineup.
Schedule
18 October: v Ireland, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
20 October: v Oman, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
21 October: v United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
23 October: v Jersey, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
24 October: v Canada, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
27 October: v Nigeria, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi
