Warne to make late dash for HK Sixes
Death of close friend delays star's arrival
Superstar Shane Warne will make a last-minute dash to Hong Kong for this weekend's Sixes after the death of a close friend in Australia.
Warne informed organisers he might now arrive as late as Saturday morning - the first day of the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Sixes.
Warne, who is captain of the All-Stars line-up, was due to arrive last night, but he stayed in Melbourne because of the death of a close friend.
Jason Warne, brother and agent of the leg-spinner, who is already in Hong Kong, said yesterday afternoon: 'Shane just called me and said he has had to cancel his flight as one of his close friends had died of a heart attack. He wants to stay back for the funeral.'
A spokesman for the organisers said: 'He is now booked to fly either tomorrow night or Friday night. But we have been told, 100 per cent, he will definitely be in Hong Kong for the Sixes.'
The world's leading test wicket-taker (708) had been expected at a junior clinic this morning for more than 60 children from the Hong Kong Cricket Club and the English Schools Foundation.
Organisers are now desperately trying to get West Indian great Brian Lara to turn up for this morning's junior clinic. Lara is due to arrive at 8.45am.
Only two of the seven players recruited for the All-Stars had turned up by last night - former Zimbabwean captain Heath Streak and New Zealander Craig McMillan. Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath are due to arrive later tonight.
McMillan and Streak, meanwhile, got stuck into the spirit of Hong Kong yesterday in their first taste of a dim sum lunch.
'I don't do chopsticks well at all. Get me a fork and knife,' laughed McMillan as he shakily manoeuvred the steamed pork dumplings.
'I hope my form is still good as I will be hoping to hit a few sixes,' said McMillan, who hit the most number of sixes (13) at last month's Twenty20 world championship in South Africa.
McMillan has experienced the Sixes before - with the New Zealand team in 1995.
'I know what it takes. I hope the organisers have ordered more balls. I remember the boundaries were very small,' he said.
It will be the first taste of Sixes for Streak.
'I have played a couple of matches at club level, but never at this level and against teams who will be very competitive. I'm really looking forward to it,' said Streak.
Hong Kong were beaten in a warm-up game before the ACC Twenty20 tournament, going down by eight wickets to the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah. Hong Kong were bowled out for 77 in 18.4 overs and the UAE knocked off the runs in 11 overs.
