KENYA 'TIGERS' TO POUNCE AT 2004 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

Hong Kong, October 19: A fresh-faced Kenyan team will be aiming to be the surprise package at next month's Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

Recent turbulence within the domestic game has resulted in many of the country's senior players who were instrumental in Kenya's stunning run to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup being left out in the cold.

That, in turn, has opened the door of opportunity for a young and energetic batch of players to prove their worth. And Andy Moles, manager and coach of the Kenyan team, is excited about the talent of the new breed and confident that the players will rise to the occasion in front of the packed Kowloon Cricket Club stands on November 6-7.

"We have some tremendous young players with a wonderful attitude and work ethic. They are looking at the Sixes as a challenge and they will not be daunted. I'll just tell them to enjoy the party atmosphere.

"They will have no inhibitions with the bat and they are magnificent fielders, like tigers," said Moles, citing the spirit that earned his players a crucial draw with Namibia in an ICC Intercontinental Cup tie at the Aga Khan Sports Club in Nairobi in the first week of October.

It was a gutsy performance in the face of severe adversity that earned the Kenyans a place in the semi-final against Scotland in Sharjah in mid-November and illustrated the qualities that Moles so admires and encourages.

In Hong Kong, Kenya have been drawn in Pool 1 where they will face the hosts in the opening match of the 2004 tournament, before taking on defending champions England and then Sri Lanka.

In-form Ravi Shah is the only member of the squad who was in the line-up last year when Kenya made their debut in the Sixes. Shah, who notched half-centuries against South Africa and Canada at last year's World Cup, will not be short of confidence having compiled a classy unbeaten 187 in the second innings against Namibia.

Also on a high will be Hitesh Modi, a veteran of three World Cups (1996, 1999 and 2003) who recently took over as captain from Steve Tikolo. November is sure to be a memorable month for the 33-year-old who will get married in England less than a fortnight after the Sixes.

While Shah, Modi and Lameck Onyango provide the experience, youthful exuberance will flow from the remaining squad members – 25-year-old Abeed Janmohamed, 20-year-old Rageb Aga and 19-year-olds Rajesh Bhudia and Kalpesh Patel.

"The young players are like sponges. They want to soak in all the information you give them. It's a pleasure to work with such a motivated group," said Moles, who spent a month in Hong Kong in 2000 coaching the national team.

"I have a lot of good friends in Hong Kong and happy memories from my time there. I'm looking forward to returning and while I'm hoping Kenya will beat Hong Kong in the first game, I'll be cheering for Hong Kong in all their other matches," he said.

Mike Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association, said: "We're delighted that Kenya are back and I'm looking forward to seeing their new generation of players in action."

Meanwhile, Pakistan, four-time tournament winners, will be favourites to emerge unscathed in Pool 2, where they will take on arch-rivals India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup competition on the second day (November 7), while the bottom two in the pools will compete in the Plate category.

Two-day tickets for the 2004 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are currently available. Prices have been set at HK$450 for adults and HK$200 for children under the age of 15.

The 2004 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 6-7. Two-day passes cost HK$450 for adults and HK$200 for children under 15, and are on sale through Cityline at (www.cityline.com) as well as at the following outlets: Hong Kong Cricket Club (137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley, 2574 6266); Kowloon Cricket Club (10 Cox's Road, Jordan, 2367 4141); Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Prince's Building, Central 2810 6988). Further ticket information is available at the Hong Kong Cricket Association websitewww.hkca.cricket.org

Provided by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8101.