ROBIN SINGH LEADS INDIAN SIDE AT CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

Robin Singh © Getty Images

Hong Kong, October 19: Experienced campaigner Robin Singh will lead an exciting Indian side desperate to capture their first title at the 2005 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes this weekend.

Singh, the former Indian Test and one-day star who also coaches the Hong Kong national side, will captain a talented squad that combines youth and experience for the October 22-23 tournament at Kowloon Cricket Club.

Tricky spinner Nikhil Chopra and Hrishikesh Kanitkar return from last year’s squad when India failed to win a match in the preliminary stages. They are joined by Sanjay Bangar, Sunil Joshi, Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Vivek Razdan.

India’s best performances in the world’s premier Sixes event came at the inaugural tournament in 1992 and in 1996.

On both occasions they reached the Cup final, only to be beaten by arch-rivals Pakistan in 1992 and by the West Indies in their second final appearance.

The Indians will have an opportunity to avenge both those losses during the group stage of the 2005 event, having been drawn in Pool 2 with Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa.

Pool 1 comprises defending champions England, Sri Lanka, hosts Hong Kong and Australia.

Trinidad-born Robin Singh is expected to play a major role in India’s campaign after the country’s selectors convinced the former one-day specialist, retired from other forms of cricket, to represent them this year.

During an illustrious career, Singh appeared in no fewer than 136 one-day matches for India, his highest score being 100, at an average of 29.95. He has also played one Test.

Kanitkar has played two Tests and 34 one-dayers for India, while Chopra was one of the most economical bowlers in last year’s tournament.

Clive Howard, Chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), said: “I know that India are determined to show a marked improvement in Hong Kong this year. With Robin Singh leading from the front, they will be a competitive team.”

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.

INDIA SQUAD: Sanjay Bangar, Nikhil Chopra, Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Vivek Razdan, Robin Singh (captain), Reetinder Singh Sodhi.

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.