A new-look Hong Kong squad will play in Bauhinia-red coloured clothing at next month's Asia Cup in Sri Lanka when they come up against Bangladesh and Pakistan in what will be the first official one-day internationals in the history of local cricket. After the dismal performance at the Asian Cricket Council Trophy - which ends today with Oman (who ousted Hong Kong in their group) meeting the United Arab Emirates in the final in Kuala Lumpur - the choice of colour is quite appropriate. Any red faces as a result of expected losses against the Test-playing nations can be somewhat lost in the background of red attire. 'The clothing will be Bauhinia-red with blue piping. It will be very striking and very colourful. This is the first time that the guys will be wearing full-coloured clothing. At the Hong Kong Sixes, only the shirts are coloured, but here even the trousers will be red,' revealed Glyn Davies, who will manage the side at the Asia Cup which starts on July 16. Davies is scrambling around trying to pin down the selectors to name the 14 players who will embark on this historic trip to Colombo. He needs to know which names to put on the back of the shirts. What should have been quite a straightforward task if Hong Kong had achieved their target at the ACC Trophy, which was entering next year's ICC Trophy in Ireland, a 2007 World Cup qualifying event (UAE and Oman will now go through), has now become complicated and the selectors will have a long, hard look before naming the final squad. 'You can expect a few changes in the team,' said selector Jim Middleton yesterday. 'As this is a tournament against Test sides, the ICC eligibility rules permit us to field even a full team comprising players who have been in Hong Kong for only four years. We will be getting together [tomorrow] to decide on the squad.'' Normally Hong Kong have to stick to the nine (citizens or born in Hong Kong) plus two (deemed nationals or those who have been here four years) rule on the field. But at the Asia Cup, the whole squad can be deemed nationals. At the ACC Trophy, strike bowlers Afzaal Haider and Najeeb Amar were the two deemed nationals in the squad. With the relaxation of rules for the Asia Cup, Hong Kong can also bring in players such as left-arm fast bowler Khalid Khan and batsman Nasir Hameed. There is also a possibility of bringing back all-rounder Roy Lamsam, talented left-arm teenage spin prodigy Nadeem Ahmed and opener David Mallinson. The selectors will also pursue the prospect of playing explosive all-rounder Hussain Butt. 'But first we have to find out if the cut-off date for deemed nationals is four years prior to the tournament starting on July 16, which is July 15, 2000, or the effective ICC date when the rule was brought in, which is September 30, 1998,' said Middleton. Meanwhile, the UAE, who will also play at the Asia Cup, stormed into the final of the ACC Trophy after beating Kuwait by 120 runs. Chasing a massive 339 to win, Kuwait were bowled out for 218 in the 37th over. In the other semi-final, Oman defeated Qatar by four wickets. Qatar scored 158 and Oman overhauled the target in 34 overs.
