Mine was a state school with thousands of students and it was built out of concrete with a football pitch and extensive lawns.

When I first attended, we'd sit on the floor in class but by high school we had our own desks.

What was most memorable were the friendships and the relationships I had with my teachers who were always caring although some were stricter than others.

I went back to Pakistan to represent Hong Kong in cricket in the Asia Cup last year and the match was shown live on television there. That was a great experience because I received many phone calls from a lot of old school friends, some of whom I'd forgotten.

Having the school next door meant it was always a presence in my life but I felt positive about it. In fact, I'd go back there in the evenings to play. It also resulted in my being perhaps better known than the other boys because the teachers knew me.

As I had two elder brothers who were successful - one was a doctor and the other an electronics engineer - there were high expectations for me academically.

But although I was one of the top students in primary school, I can't say I was as academic as my brothers.

I was more sporty and loved to play cricket, hockey and soccer and from the age of 11, I played only cricket and did so for six years. We'd play inter-school competitions, with two schools having a reputation for always making the finals.

In my final year, after three years, we finally won because we lost just six wickets. What made it particularly memorable was that I was team captain and it was a good way to end the year.

Studying, though, took priority and maths was the subject I liked most.

At high school, I veered towards biology, physics and chemistry although I also did social and Pakistan studies, Islamic studies and languages.

Ghulam Ali taught science and did so in a way that was simple and made it easy for us to understand.

If we were naughty, such as not handing in homework or misbehaving, we'd be slapped.

Not everyone used physical punishment, however, as some teachers had a presence or used psychology to control their classes.

Interestingly, I never looked at cricket as a career - my aim was to be successful like my brothers.

I went on to the Islamia University in Bahawalpur where I took my degree in social studies before coming to Hong Kong in 1995. Dad, who'd left Hong Kong when he was eight or nine, was in transport management and had returned to work here as well.

I worked for a property company in leasing and selling, and although I had no experience, picked it up quickly. Those were the days when the property market was booming but then it turned sour.

I first played cricket for the Pakistan Association here on my days off, then I did a cricket coaching course and gradually spent more of my time coaching.

I started travelling with the Hong Kong squad from about 2000 and worked part-time as a cricket coach with the Hong Kong Cricket Association.

I'm currently the development officer with the association, working to promote the game.

We now have leagues and clubs for schools and our aim is to bring the game to Hong Kong Chinese.

Cricket means everything to me. It's given me a lot and I learn from it every day because not only is it a game but it teaches you how to handle situations and work under pressure.

It was always a dream to play for a country when I was a kid and now I'm playing for Hong Kong. That's an honour, although it's like being in the hot seat and you need to devote a lot of time and energy to it.

Tabarak Dar is the captain of Hong Kong's cricket team and development officer with the Hong Kong Cricket Association. He was talking with David Phair