Willis, appointed 13 months ago, is keen for more elite facilities in the city. He revealed that during a trio of Premier Cup warm-up games against United Arab Emirates, a succession of Hong Kong batsmen perished “caught on the boundary, whereas in Hong Kong, the grounds are smaller, and it is easier to hit it over the rope”.

That scenario was envisaged by Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe Test captain, who is head coach of the Papua New Guinea team that last month won a tri-series at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, one of only three cricket grounds in Hong Kong with a grass wicket.

“You become used to mis-hitting balls for six, then you go to a bigger ground, and the same shot gets you out,” Taibu told the Post.

Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHK) is not in receipt of funding from the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), although it will have a case for that to change following the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The organisation’s website currently invites sponsorship of individual players, priced at HK$3,000 (US$383) per month, and separately “strongly encourages” potential commercial partners to contact CHK.

Global governing body the International Cricket Council’s revenue-sharing model for the 2024-27 cycle granted only 11.5 per cent of its roughly US$600 million (HK$4.7 billion) annual takings to the 94 associate nations. That amounts to around US$718,085 annually going to CHK.

“A winning team raises eyebrows, and we need to increase interest in the sport in Hong Kong,” Willis said.

“If we can do that and get the government and others to help us along the way, particularly with the Olympics to come, it will be a very good thing for our cricket.

“Hong Kong and the mainland value Olympic sports, so cricket’s inclusion is very positive. From our point of view, it would be great to have further investment and backing in the future.”

A sickness bug that infiltrated the camp in UAE, combined with injuries, has left Willis sweating over the availability of four players. Reluctant to declare his hand to a Qatar side that Hong Kong recently beat in a tight three-match series, he withheld the names of those poised for late fitness tests.

Of particular satisfaction from the UAE friendlies was that Hong Kong conceded only six extras across three matches. They haemorrhaged extras in the 2023 Premier Cup, including 23 in the defeat by Kuwait that sealed their group-stage exit.

“We have been working on that [eradicating extras] for around six months,” Willis said. “It is a mix of technical and mental elements, and the guys are growing in confidence and trusting themselves.”

Firecracker 16-year-old batter Shiv Mathur was not included in Hong Kong’s 14-man squad.

“We need to look after Shiv and develop him at the right pace, and he is closer to [selection for] 50-over cricket than T20 at this time,” Willis said.

One intriguing inclusion, in an otherwise familiar party, is Raunaq Kapur, the 20-year-old off-spin bowler, who was 2017-18 Hong Kong Junior Cricketer of the Year, but is currently playing for Canterbury in New Zealand.

“He made me aware a while ago he was keen to play for Hong Kong,” Willis said. “He is a tall lad for a spinner, gets good revs on the ball, and good bounce out of the wicket.”

Hong Kong are the second-highest ranked team in their group, behind Nepal, but are taking nothing for granted so soon after contesting three close matches with Qatar.

“A lot of Middle East teams base their T20 sides around players who have played tapeball cricket, so they can be very dangerous hitting sides,” Willis said.

“When they get on a run, anything off a length can go out of the park. They have variety and skill in their bowling, too, so we need to be at our best.”