Security risk scuppers HK build-up
Hong Kong have scrapped their Asia Cup warm-up games in Lahore at the last minute after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to guarantee the safety of the players before the start of the regional showpiece on June 24.
Hong Kong were due to leave yesterday for Lahore to play five warm-up matches before they take part in the Asia Cup against subcontinent giants India and Pakistan.
But with the PCB not willing to give an assurance over security, the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) has decided to play it safe and cancel the pre-Asia Cup games.
The 15-strong team will now leave on June 22 and go direct to Karachi where they will take on Pakistan (June 24) and India (June 25).
'We are fully confident in the security arrangements for the Asia Cup, but as this cover is not available beforehand we have erred on the side of caution and cancelled our plans to go to Lahore,' said Ravi Nagdev, manager of the Hong Kong squad.
'We asked the PCB for security but they said our training trip to Lahore would be regarded as a private tour.'
The association executive was concerned over security in Pakistan, which has been hit by bombings recently.
An ongoing protest by lawyers in Lahore - demanding the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf - had heightened worries. 'The executive has determined that in the light of the ongoing lawyers' protest it would be more prudent for the team not to travel,' Nagdev said.
Coach Aftab Habib said it would hamper the team's build-up.
'This is out of our hands, but it is very frustrating as we don't have the facilities and opposition in Hong Kong which can help the team get mentally attuned to the Asia Cup,' Habib said.
The lack of turf wickets - the only two grounds, HKCC and KCC, are both private clubs - as well as good opposition has been compounded by poor weather.
But everything is not lost. Nagdev said the funds which would have been used for the warm-up tour would now be put aside for use before the ACC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur next month.
'The ACC Trophy is our key tournament, more so than the Asia Cup. We will now plan to go to Malaysia a few days earlier so we can get some games under our belt. But a good performance at the Asia Cup will certainly help boost our confidence,' he said.
Reduced overs
The number of warm-up games that Hong Kong will now have to do without in their Asia Cup preparation: 5
