Under-19 side eye spot in World Cup

Hong Kong cricket has another World Cup to aim for. The crushing disappointment surrounding the senior squad's dismal performance at last month's ICC Trophy in Canada will be somewhat lifted if the Under-19 team live up to their potential and qualify for the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand next year.

A 14-strong squad led by KCC Infidels leg-spinner Jignesh Tailor will leave on Thursday for Fiji to take part in the regional qualifiers for the 2002 January 12-February 10 World Cup.

Hong Kong will meet hosts Fiji and Papua New Guinea in Nadi from August 19-25 in a double round robin competition with the winner qualifying for the World Cup. This will be a golden opportunity for the SAR to qualify on to the world stage for it will be the only time that they are included in this East Asia-Pacific grouping.

Hong Kong's place on the ICC's world development map has been under a cloud of confusion in recent times. The world governing body had placed Hong Kong in the Asia-Pacific zone, coming under the umbrella of Test nations Australia and New Zealand. But Hong Kong, who have been one of the founding members of the Asian Cricket Council, had protested and as a result are now back in the fold. But with the draw for the regional qualifiers already done for the Under-19 World Cup, it was decided that Hong Kong be allowed to play in these qualifiers and not in the tougher Asian grouping.

While Fiji, especially under home conditions, and PNG cannot be taken lightly, the SAR are regarded as the favourites to qualify from this grouping.

The Hong Kong squad's preparations received a boost with a sound performance in a practice match on Wednesday against a Rest XI featuring senior players such as Tabarak Dar, Roy Lamsam, Sher Lama and Ilyas Gul. Chasing 256, the Under-19 team were 230 for six in 34 overs when the match was called off as the Mission Road ground had to be handed back to the authorities.