T20 World Cup: Simon Willis demands Hong Kong go from ‘unacceptable’ to ‘ruthless’ for crunch qualifier against UAE
- Head coach says players must handle pressure of elite competition better after shock loss to Bahrain
- The result means they must beat UAE – and rely on Bahrain’s result – to keep alive hopes of reaching the 2024 tournament in West Indies and the US
Hong Kong’s men’s cricketers have been told to be “more ruthless” to save their T20 World Cup qualifying campaign after what head coach Simon Willis called an “unacceptable” display in their last outing.
Willis said his side would aim to channel the pain of Tuesday’s defeat by Bahrain into a vastly improved performance in Thursday’s must-win qualifier against United Arab Emirates, with their hopes hanging by a thread.
He admitted his disappointment at conceding 21 extras after allowing Bahrain to post 146 from the depths of 61 for five just past midway in their innings.
His players have to beat UAE and bolster a lowly net run rate (NRR) to stand a chance of progressing to Friday’s semi-finals, where victory would seal a place at next year’s global jamboree in West Indies and the United States.
Bahrain are also in the mix, level on two points with Hong Kong, before their closing match against pointless Kuwait. UAE are sitting pretty on four points and boast a handsome NRR.
“The higher you climb the ladder in sport, the more pressure you encounter,” Willis said. “People handle that in different ways, and that is an ongoing theme for us.
“After 10 overs against Bahrain, we were in a very good position … allowing their lower order to add 85 gave them momentum and confidence to start strongly with the ball, and we have to become more ruthless.
“We are trying to find the solution – I do not think we have the answer yet. Conceding lower-order runs has happened on a couple of occasion. It could be complacency, it could be pressure … we need to give that some time and thought, but it is disappointing.”
The 20 wides and one leg bye coughed up against Bahrain were critical, with Hong Kong going down by a 20-run margin.
“It was unacceptable,” Willis said. “Any extras in limited overs cricket are disappointing. We have to be a far more disciplined bowling unit if we are going to beat better teams. It is an ongoing issue.”
Willis played down concerns over the form of captain Nizakat Khan, whose past six innings have yielded only 46 runs, pointing to fellow opener Martin Coetzee emerging from a barren trot with innings of 86 and 81 over the past week.
The Englishman was deliberating over changes in personnel, nonetheless, with Hong Kong needing a repeat of their crushing 69-run warm-up success against UAE last week.
Bahrain face Kuwait later on Thursday, raising the possibility of Willis and his players – should they win – having an anxious wait to learn their fate.
“I am not worried about anybody else, only focusing on trying to win the game,” Willis said. “We have to highlight our strengths and play to them.
“We will know the [NRR] connotations throughout the match, but the message to the players is to win the game first. Then if we need to advise them [on what is required to overhaul UAE’s NRR], we will.”
Willis was optimistic confidence had not been harmed by the setback against Bahrain.
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“I certainly hope not – if that is the case we have the wrong people in the dressing room,” he said. “I hope we have a positive reaction from everybody, and that the hurt from Tuesday is the fuel for a win against UAE.
“I just want a group who are hungry and determined to do their best, then we have every chance.
“You do not take jobs because they will be easy. This was a great opportunity for me to bring together a diverse group of individuals and cricketers, and to try to make them successful.”
