MOIN KHAN RETURNS TO LEAD PAKISTAN IN 2005 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SIXES

Moin Khan at the 2003 Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes © CCIL

Hong Kong, October 18: Former Test captain Moin Khan will lead from the front this weekend when Pakistan set out in their quest for a fifth title at the 2005 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Sixes.

An accomplished wicketkeeper and batsman, Moin captained the side to victory over England in 2002 and was also a member of the 2003 team that fell to the English in the Cup final.

After missing out last year, Moin returns to the Kowloon Cricket Club for the 11th edition of the world's premier Sixes event on October 22-23 along with three of last year's team, Naved Latif, Yasir Arafat and Riaz Afridi.

They will be joined in the powerful seven-man squad by Mohammad Hafeez, Tahir Khan and Kamran Hussain.

In the tournament that boasts a record prize fund of US$280,000, Pakistan have been drawn in Pool 2 with South Africa, arch-rivals India and the West Indies. Pool 1 comprises defending champions England, Sri Lanka, hosts Hong Kong and Australia.

Moin was unavailable last year because he was representing his country against Sri Lanka in what turned out to be the last of his 69 Test matches to date.

The 34-year-old is by far the most experienced player in the Pakistani squad, having also played 219 one-day internationals.

Naved was the Player of the Final in 2002, his 31 runs and tight bowling enabling Pakistan to overcome England for their fourth title.

All-rounder Arafat and paceman Afridi are also familiar with the Sixes format, while Hafeez has played three Tests for Pakistan and scored a century against Bangladesh. Tahir, one of Pakistan's brightest prospects, and Hussain complete the squad.

Pakistan have played in nine of the previous 10 editions of the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes, missing out only in 1995.

Winners of the inaugural Sixes in 1992, the Pakistanis were triumphant again in 1997, 2001 and 2002. En route to their victories in 2001 and 2002, Pakistan played 10 matches and won them all.

In the last two years, though, they have lost their aura of invincibility, defeated in a pool match by New Zealand and comfortably seen off by England in the Cup final in 2003 and beaten by Sri Lanka in last year's Cup semi-final.

Clive Howard, Chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), said: "Pakistan have a proud record in the tournament and, with Moin back at the helm, are certain to be among the favourites this weekend.

"They have an outstanding squad this year. Four of their players have previous experience of the Sixes and that will give them an advantage and make them very difficult to beat."

The all-action short form version of the game has been thrilling the SAR crowds since its inception in 1992 and HKCA officials are confident that this year will be the best yet.

Tickets for the 2005 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are selling quickly. Two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 and under.

Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicketkeeper, bowling one over. The eight competing teams are split into two groups of four and will play each other on a round-robin basis on day one.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup competition knockout stages, while the bottom two teams in each of the pools will compete for the Plate.

PAKISTAN SQUAD: Riaz Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Hussain, Moin Khan (captain), Tahir Khan, Naved Latif.

The 2005 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on October 22-23. Two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 and under, 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).

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