ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015: Pre-tour Day 1 Review for Hong Kong Cricket Men’s Squad

Hong Kong, 27 June 2015 – The sixes flew sweetly off the bats of Irfan Ahmed and Babar Hayat as Hong Kong began the build-up for the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier off the ground with a crushing 72-run victory over Ardingly College in Sussex on Friday (26 June).

Opener Irfan who is crucial to Hong Kong’s hopes of qualifying for the bigger stage in India next year, was quick to get into the flow of things as he cracked a half-century (58) to lay the foundation for a massive total of 206 for three off 20 overs.

“Irfan will be the spearhead with the bat and it was pleasing to see him among the runs,” said Hong Kong head coach Charlie Burke. “He will be a key player for us just like Tanwir Afzal and Haseeb Amjad with the ball.”

Irfan blasted three sixes and seven fours in his 33-ball knock but even the master-blaster was trumped later by Hayat whose unbeaten 62 came off just 21 deliveries and included five sixes and six fours.

Also getting stuck into the runs was left-hander Mark Chapman who batting at four made 45 off 28 deliveries before retiring.

Hong Kong fielded their clutch of development players who are in the UK and they too got into the act with Giacomo Lamplough and Suhaib Ahmed taking two wickets while Anas Khan grabbed three as the opposition was bowled out for 134 in 18.5 overs.

At Ardingly College Ground, Hong Kong XI 206/3 from 20 overs beat Ardingly College XI 134/10 from 18.5 overs by 72 runs.

Hong Kong’s next warm-up game will be against the Sussex 2nd XI on Monday (29 June).

Hong Kong Squad for ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 include:

1. Tanwir Afzal [Captain]
2. Mark Chapman [Vice Captain]
3. Aizaz Khan
4. Anas Khan
5. Anshuman Rath
6. Babar Hayat
7. Ehsan Nawaz
8. Haseeb Amjad
9. Irfan Ahmed
10. Jamie Atkinson [Wicket keeper]
11. Kinchit Shah
12. Nadeem Ahmed
13. Nizakat Khan
14. Waqas Barkat
15. Waqas Khan

Development Players in United Kingdom Pre-tour

1.  Giacomo Lamplough  
   

2.  Raag Kapur  
   

3.  Suhaib Ahmad  
   

Officials
Charlie Burke – Head Coach
Jawaid Iqbal - Assistant Coach
Chris Pickett - Team Analyst
Simon Cook - Bowling Coach
Alex Chan – Physiotherapist

Pre-tour Matches

Warm-up Matches

Tournament Matches