PRESS RELEASE
Karthik to lead Indian assult at KARP Group Hong Kong Sixes
 [Hong Kong, October 24, 2011]: Dinesh Karthik will hope to follow in the footsteps of Robin Singh and lead India to a second Cup title at the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes at the Kowloon Cricket Club on Sunday.
Former Hong Kong coach Singh was at the helm of the only Indian side to win the title, when he played a match-winning role to lead the crowd favourites to a four-wicket triumph over the West Indies in the 2005 Cup final.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Karthik will hope to emulate that feat with a new-look India team that will be banking on a mix of youth and experience to pull off what would undoubtedly be a popular win with the hordes of Indian fans.
Karthik will be at the helm of a side that includes Ranji Trophy players Shalabh Srivastava, Sridhran Sriram, Vignesh Ganapathy, Mayank Agarwal, Manvidner Basla and Rajoo Bhaktal.
Much will depend on Karthik, who has played 23 tests and 45 one-day internationals for India, and the feisty batsman could take a leaf out of Singh’s book. In 2005, Singh led from the front, scoring an invaluable unbeaten 34 in the final as well as excelling in the field with some tidy wicket-keeping.
Prior to 2005, India had twice been losing finalists in the Cup competition (1992 and 1996), and the Chennai-born Karthik will be hoping his side can go all the way this time.
All eyes will be on Agarwal, 20, an explosive right-hand opening batsman from Bangalore who has modelled his style of play on Virender Sehwag. Agarwal toured Australia in 2009 with the U-19 side and hit a match-winning 160 in a one-dayer.
Another player to watch out for is opening batsman Bisla, who has been an IPL regular since 2009. Bisla, who now plays for the Kolkota Knight Riders, has also represented India at the Under-19 level.
Defending champions Australia meanwhile will pin their hopes on a group of youngsters including Alister McDermott, the son of former test fast bowler Craig McDermott. Australia returns aiming to defend the title they won in dramatic fashion last year, and will pin their hopes on a clutch of young guns including the 20-year-old McDermott, who will be hoping to one day emulate the illustrious career of his father.
The younger McDermott, like his senior, is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who turns out for Queensland. He made his first-class debut for the state team against the touring West Indies as a teenager two years ago.
Having already represented Australia at under-19 level, Alister will be eager to make an impact at the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes as it will give him exposure at an international level. Two other youngsters to watch out for are Liam Davis, an opening batsman, and Scott Coyte, a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
Australia, spurred on by David Warner, scored 46 runs off the final over in last year’s Cup final to defeat Pakistan and win their first ever Sixes title. They will be hoping the young guns will fire them to a successful title defence.
Australia is drawn in a tough pool alongside, five-time champions England, Bangladesh and newcomers Ireland.
India, meanwhile, have been drawn with rivals Pakistan, South Africa and hosts Hong Kong in the preliminary round.
Australia: Scott Coyte, Rhett Lockyear, Nathan Reardon, Liam Davis, Tim Armstrong, Alister McDermott
India: Shalabh Srivastava, Sridharan Sriram, Dinesh Karthik, Vignesh Ganapathy, Rajoo Bhaktal, Manvinder Bisla, Mayank Agarwal
About the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Sixes is fully sanctioned by the world's governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council, and title sponsored by Karp Group. An recognised "M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007, the Hong Kong Sixes is being supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission's Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Commission’s Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011, this year’s Karp Group Cricket Sixes 2011 is set to be the biggest and best clash in the 19-year history of the Tournament. The Hong Kong Sixes has also been recognised an official “M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007.
Tickets can be purchased from the Hong Kong Ticketing website at www.hkticketing.com, the Hong Kong Cricket Association office in Olympic House, Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club and at Jashan and DotCod restaurants in Central.
The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2010 reached over 80 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China.
About the Mega Events Fund
The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong. |
