Challenges abound as the champions seek path to another tournament victory
It's swing time again in Hong Kong. And defending champions England had better watch out for the big bat sounds of their opponents at the US$260,000 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Sixes which gets under way this morning at Kowloon Cricket Club.
Pakistan, led by the big-hitting Shahid Afridi, will be seeking to avenge their meek capitulation last year when they lost the final by 21 runs, while South Africa, captained by another big-hitter, Gerald Dros, are the other danger team.
But even before England can think of these two sides, they will have to navigate dangerous waters, coming up against Sri Lanka, Kenya and Hong Kong in the preliminary pool competition. Only the top two teams advance to the Cup competition tomorrow.
'At this stage the draw doesn't really bother me. You have to win at least two of your group games and that is when the pressure starts,' said England captain Matthew Maynard, who has picked Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka as the teams to watch out for.
Maynard, England's new assistant coach for the one-day series in Zimbabwe and South Africa, is keeping an eye on Hong Kong, who will field one of their strongest sides and are keen to enter the Cup competition for the first time in the tournament's 10-year history.
