MEDIA RELEASE

REEVE RAISES LOCAL HOPES FOR 2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

HONG KONG, October 14: Former England Test star Dermot Reeve has been confirmed as Hong Kong's 'secret weapon' at the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

Dermott Reeve - Hong Kong's secret weapon? © Cricinfo

Born and raised in the Special Administrative Region, Reeve's glittering cricketing career was shaped during his formative years in Hong Kong and his appearance for the hosts is certain to raise local hopes of pulling off some major surprises in the ninth edition of the world's premier Sixes event.

Winners of the Plate competition last year, the Rahul Sharma-led Hong Kong team will now be aiming to qualify for the Cup competition for the first time since the Sixes' inception in 1992.

Drawn in Pool 1, Hong Kong's part-timers will face stiff challenges from India, New Zealand and defending champions Pakistan at the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 1-2.

However, with the 2002 Plate success still fresh in the mind and confirmation of Reeve's selection for the 2003 competition, there will be an air of expectancy among the squad and the local cricketing fraternity.

In addition to Reeve and Sharma, Hong Kong's selectors have called up Najeeb Amar and Afzaal Haider, both members of last year's team.

Making their first Hong Kong Sixes appearances will be Tabarak Dar, Ryan Eagleson, and left-handed batsman Mark Eames.

Undoubtedly, though, the main attraction will be Reeve, who celebrated his 40th birthday in April. As well as three Test caps and 25 One-Day International matches for England, Reeve captained Warwickshire to six trophies in three years, including three in 1995.

Following his retirement from the first-class game, Reeve, who received an OBE for his services to cricket, coached Somerset. Now he is better known for his incisive television punditry with Channel 4.

Based on their Hong Kong Sixes performances in the last two years, the local team have been seeded sixth, ahead of New Zealand, who will be making their first appearance in the event since 1996, and tournament debutants Kenya, surprise semi-finalists in this year's World Cup.

Reeve and his team-mates have been given the opportunity to make an early impression in the competition as they face New Zealand in the opening encounter at 8.30 am on Saturday, November 1, before taking on India later in the morning.

They will then have a wait of almost 24 hours before facing up to Pakistan in the last of the Pool matches on Sunday, November 2.

The top two teams from Pool 1 will qualify for the Cup knockout stage where they will face the leading two from Pool 2, which is made up of England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The bottom two teams in each of the pools will compete for the Plate.

Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are selling fast. 'Early bird' two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children under the age of 15. From October 18, the prices will increase to HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children.

Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicket-keeper, bowling one over.

Hong Kong squad: Rahul Sharma (captain), Najeeb Amar, Tabarak Dar, Ryan Eagleson, Mark Eames, Afzaal Haider, Dermot Reeve.

The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 1-2. Early bird two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 years and younger, and are on sale through Cityline (www.cityline.com.hk) 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);
• Hong Kong Cricket Association (Room 1019 Sports House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, 2504 8102).

Provided by CCIL/Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.