MEDIA RELEASE

MOIN'S MEN AIM 'TO HAVE FUN' AT 2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

Papu Butani with the Butani Cup Image © CCIL

HONG KONG, October 21: Moin Khan will instruct his team to go out and enjoy themselves when Pakistan defend their title in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes next weekend (November 1-2).

Moin, a stalwart of Pakistan cricket for more than a decade, had the honour of raising aloft the magnificent Butani Cup at the Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) last year.

"It was a wonderful experience for me and a great achievement for the team. I hope that we will be able to repeat our success this time," said the 32-year-old, who made his Test debut in the 1990/91 series against West Indies.

"Last year was my first time playing Sixes in Hong Kong. It's a totally different form of cricket to anything we are used to, but it's tremendously exciting and fun.

"The team spirit last year was fantastic and I'm sure it will be the same this year. Once again we have a very strong team and we're all looking forward to the challenge.

"As a batsman in the Sixes you have to go out to the middle with the intention of hitting every ball for four or six. There aren't really too many tactics involved, but it's important to enjoy yourself," added the Pakistan skipper.

Winners of the inaugural Sixes in 1992, the Pakistanis were triumphant again in 1997, when the tournament was staged at the Hong Kong Stadium.

When the tournament was revived at the KCC in 2001 after disappearing from the calendar for three years, it was a Wasim Akram-inspired Pakistan team that swept all before them.

Moin's class of 2002 continued the Pakistan domination and, not surprisingly, the Pakistanis have been seeded number one in 2003 and are overwhelming favourites to capture first place prize money of US$80,000 once more.

Moin's first task will be to guide his squad to top place in Pool 1, which pits Pakistan against New Zealand, India and hosts Hong Kong.

Said Moin: "We know it won't be easy. New Zealand will be tough and it's always a good game when we play against India."

Students of the Hong Kong Sixes will also recall that twice in the event's history Pakistan have suffered shock defeats to Hong Kong, in 1992 and 1994.

Assuming there are no such slip-ups this time, Pakistan will expect to be drawn against Pool 2 favourites England or South Africa in the Cup semi-finals.

And Moin is expecting that the Kowloon Cricket Club will be filled to capacity to watch the drama unfold. "There were big crowds last year and my message to Pakistan fans in Hong Kong is to come to the ground and back us. We will certainly be trying our best to win the tournament again," he said.

Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are selling fast. Two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children under the age of 15.

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

Pakistan squad: Azhar Mahmood, Bilal Asad, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Moin Khan (captain), Naved Latif, Shahid Afridi.

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. Two-day passes cost HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children under 15, 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.