|
Key Matches in Store on Day 1 of KARP Group Hong Kong
Sixes 2012
Hong Kong hope to build momentum on day of crucial Saturday matches
[Hong Kong, October 24, 2012]: With the firm belief that this is
their year, Hong Kong will be going all out to set the 2012 Karp Group Hong
Kong Sixes alight from the very first ball with the home team scheduled to play
in the first game on Saturday (October 27) against 2010 champions Australia
(08.30).
“This
could be Hong Kong’s year and we really can win the Hong Kong Sixes for the
first time,” said Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke. “We have a stronger team than
last year and having come close on a couple of occasions I think we can go all
the way this time.”
It will
be all about momentum according to Burke, and as such winning the opening pool
encounter against Australia will take on added significance in the eight-team
tournament.
“Both
pools are tough and there is little room for error. The Hong Kong Sixes is all
about momentum. If you win your first match, it will boost the confidence of
the side,” Burke said.
Hong
Kong came close to winning the event in 2009 when they stormed into the final
with wins over India and England only to falter against a determined South
Africa. Last year, Hong Kong reached the
Cup semi-finals underlining the fact that the hosts are no longer pushovers.
“We
have a stronger outfit than last year. Last year’s captain Najeeb Amar has
retired and his place has been taken by Irfan Ahmed who returns after missing
out last year. Then we have Jamie Atkinson replacing Peter Wooden,” Burke said.
Burke
added: “This is Jamie’s debut at the Hong Kong Sixes and he is determined to do
well. He has had a fantastic last 12 months as captain of Hong Kong and will want
to continue the good work.
“Irfan’s
return will boost the side. He is hungry and determined for Hong Kong to win.
Then we have guys like Tanwir Afzal, who is a smart cricketer and very
committed, who is bowling well and batting superbly, and veterans like Moner Dar who gets better and better with age.”
Hong
Kong will have the benefit of playing two of their three pool matches early, having
been drawn to meet South Africa in the third game of the opening day (10.00).
Their final pool game will be against five-time champions England (14.30pm).
All
three opponents will be tough. Australia will field a young side with Tim
Armstrong providing the experience. The
young blood will be keen to make the most of this opportunity and be determined
to follow in the footsteps of David Warner who made his mark at the Hong Kong
Sixes before going on to represent Australia in One-day internationals and
Twenty20.
South
Africa will depend heavily on the likes of Wayne Parnell and Colin Ingram as
they bid to add a third Cup title to the ones they won in 2009 and 2006. South Africa will open against the hosts Hong
Kong on Saturday before facing Australia at 13.00 and England in the
penultimate match of day one at 16.00.
Joshua
Cobb and Tom Smith will provide the know-how for a seasoned bunch of county
professionals as England go in hunt of title number six and make amends for
their loss in last year’s Cup final to Pakistan.
“In previous years the England
team has been very competitive in Hong Kong and have done very well in the
competition. Our goal is to go one better than last year and we are very
focused on achieving that target,” said England manager Andy Hurry.
England’s chances will be
buoyed by its Pool grouping alongside Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong in
Pool A, while the other half of the
draw is even more challenging with sub-continent rivals India, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka in the mix along with top associate nation the Netherlands.
Defending
champions Pakistan will open their campaign against the Netherlands before the
excitement ramps up as they take on India (15.15pm) and finish off the first
day’s competition in what promises to be a barnburner against Sri Lanka (16.45).
Led
by wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, Pakistan will look to exciting new
fast-bowling prospect Junaid Khan for inspiration. Junaid, 22, burst on to the
scene earlier this year when he showed the country’s famed left-arm fast
bowling production line is still continuing to produce by taking a five wicket
haul against Sri Lanka in the test series in the Emirates.
The
mercurial Pakistanis will have a battle on their hands when they come up
against India in a match that is already being billed as the highlight of day
one’s action.
India
are fielding a side especially selected for the Sixes format and one bristling
with players from the IPL under the captaincy of Praveen Kumar. As always expectations will be high from fans
from both sides and this encounter once again will be a no-holds barred
contest.
But
watch out for Sri Lanka who has proven they could be dangerous like back in
2008 when they crushed a Shane Warne-led All Stars outfit to win their one and
only Cup title.
Sri
Lanka’s day one matches see them open against the Netherlands at 10.45. The Lankans will be looking for a fast start
to get a positive run rate started, as the triple threats of India, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka will likely be battling for spots to advance to the Cup
competition from Pool B.
Sri
Lanka’s final two matches are against India at 13.45 and the final day one
match versus Pakistan at 16.45.
Ticketing
Details:
The Hong Kong Cricket
Association has issued a reminder to local cricket fans that with the reduced
seating capacity in 2012, all interested spectators are encouraged to purchase
tickets in advance to ensure their seats for Hong Kong’s annual showcase of
international cricket, the KARP Group Hong Kong Sixes.
Public stand tickets for Hong Kong crickets’ annual
showpiece are still available for the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes, however, with
capacity set at 2,000 this year, the event is expected to sell out before the
event. Ticket packages are as follows:
Weekend
Package - HK$800 (adults), HK$380
(children)
Saturday
only - HK$310 (adults), HK$180 (children)
Sunday
only - HK$550 (adults),
HK$220 (children)
Tickets
are available through HK Ticketing (www.hkticketing.com) and from the following
outlets - HKCA, HKCC, KCC, and Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
Hospitality
Packages:
The Hong
Kong Sixes Champagne Garden and VIP Gold Pass tickets are also still
available. Prices range from $3,000 per
day to $5,500 for the weekend.
For more
information, please contact chingwa@hkcricket.org
About the KARP
Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2012
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 Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the world’s governing
body for cricket, the International Cricket Council, and title sponsored by
KARP Group.
The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2011
reached over 115 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.
ENDS |
