HK lose out as Butt switches loyalty to pakistan
The lure of playing for Pakistan has stolen Hussain Butt away from Hong Kong. The dashing all-rounder, who has just become eligible to play for the SAR under the International Cricket Council's four-year residency rule, has pulled out of the team to play Malaysia in a crucial Fast Track Countries Tournament game starting tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.
Butt, 28, was expected to boost the SAR's brittle batting line-up for the win-at-all-costs three-day match. Hong Kong are currently bottom of the five team table after losing by seven wickets to the United Arab Emirates and drawing against Nepal. They have to beat Malaysia and Singapore to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for this year's ICC Intercontinental Cup.
'His pullout is a blow. We were hoping that Butt could play a big role for us, especially where the batting was concerned,' said Hong Kong Cricket Association official Lal Jayasinghe.
Butt, who is in England, had informed chairman of selectors Mike Walsh that he would be unavailable to join the Hong Kong squad - currently in Sri Lanka for a couple of warm-up games - as he had been called up for selection trials to play first-class club cricket in Pakistan.
'He had forwarded a letter from the Pakistan team manager which had stated that he could also be picked for trials for the country's A team. We wish him all the best but our doors are still open,' Jayasinghe said.
To make matters worse for Hong Kong, veteran batsman Rahul Sharma has also pulled out of the Kuala Lumpur game due to injury.
