A five-year plan aimed at qualifying for the finals of the 2001 ICC Trophy and taking Hong Kong into the 2002 World Cup will soon be set in place by the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA).
This is the goal of HKCA chairman Peter Slack, who has been buoyed by the success of the national team at this month's World Cup qualifiers, now in its final stages in Kuala Lumpur.
Local officials, who declared themselves happy with Hong Kong's effort at this ICC Trophy - they finished eighth - are keen to see the momentum carried on.
'Based on our performances at the last two ICCs, we have showed that we are now good enough to be in the top eight amongst the associate members. Now we must not only stay at this level but try and go one better by qualifying for the 2001 finals and the World Cup after that,' said Slack.
Slack said such a campaign must be supported by Hong Kong's Sports Development Board (SDB).
'If we start a campaign for the World Cup now, we can't take it on ourselves. We will need the backing of sponsors and the SDB if we are to be serious,' said Slack.
The territory have finished in the top eight at the past two ICC Trophies, the world's biggest cricket tournament. These consistent performances have prompted Slack to look ahead and start planning right away. Slack says the HKCA must immediately identify a squad of players who will be around for the next ICC tournament and prepare them by putting in place a comprehensive programme of competition and training.
