Big guns hold no fear for Hong Kong

Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke promised to 'leave no stone unturned' after the national team found themselves in the company of heavyweights Afghanistan and the Netherlands for the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier in March.

Afghanistan were at the last World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and, along with the Netherlands, Ireland and Kenya, are among the favourites to grab the two berths available for associate members at next summer's showpiece in Sri Lanka.

'I have never been so excited at what could happen,' Burke said. 'We will leave no stone unturned and it's now time for the players to work hard and be as disciplined as ever because Hong Kong have never been in a position to play in a world cup at senior level before.'

The International Cricket Council, which announced the schedule for the 16-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates from March 13-24, had earlier cut down the number of associate countries in the World Twenty20 from six to two, thus making Hong Kong's job of qualifying much harder.

Hong Kong are grouped with Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Bermuda, Denmark and Nepal in pool A.

The other pool comprises Ireland, Kenya, Scotland, Namibia, Uganda, Oman, Italy and the United States.

'We are happy with the groups as we have showed we can match it with Afghanistan and Nepal,' Burke said. 'We have also showed we can beat Papua New Guinea and Denmark.