Hong Kong cricket's Mark Chapman back and raring to go
Chapman, who has not held a bat for a year, is confident he can help squad succeed at the world qualifiers at the UAE in November
It has been two years since he last played for Hong Kong and a year since he last picked up a bat, but teenager Mark Chapman is raring to go again and is looking forward to striding out to the crease at the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates in November.
"It's been a while since I played for Hong Kong, but hopefully I will win back my place in the team because I believe we have a very realistic chance of qualifying for the Twenty20 World Cup," said Chapman, 19, who is back for a short stay in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong head coach Charlie Burke has already pencilled in Chapman as a key member of his side. The top-order batsman was one of the most successful for Hong Kong at the ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament (50 overs) two years ago in the UAE, and Burke believes he can provide the X factor needed to lift the team.
"It will be good to have Mark back in the team. We have a very good opportunity of playing in a World Cup for the first time and with the line-up we have, I think we can do it," said Burke.
The Hong Kong-born left-hander is based in New Zealand, where he went to school and now university - having just finished his first semester at Auckland University where he is doing a degree in engineering. Chapman is hopeful that this term, his examinations will end early so that he can join the Hong Kong team in Abu Dhabi by mid-November.
"My examinations are due to end on November 19, which might mean I could miss a couple of games. But there is a strong possibility that it could end a week earlier than scheduled which would be great," Chapman said.
The 16-team qualifying tournament for associate members which will decide six berths at next year's ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh begins on November 15.