Hong Kong will rely on their heroes from last year to go one better at next month's Karp Group/PC Jeweller Hong Kong Sixes. Najeeb Amar, Hussain Butt, Munir Dar, Irfan Ahmed and Tanvir Afzaal, who figured in last year's superb performance where the hosts reached the cup final for the first time, will again form the backbone of the team.
'We couldn't quite make it last time but we are determined to put that right this time,' said Najeeb, who will be appearing in his ninth Hong Kong Sixes.
'We have set ourselves the target of winning the cup, and improve on last year's remarkable performance.'
In unprecedented fashion, Hong Kong won all six games leading up to last year's final where they came agonisingly close to beating South Africa. Needing five runs off the last ball for victory, Farhaan Behardien smashed a six to kill Hong Kong's dreams of a first-ever win.
While the core of the team remains the same, Najeeb believes the two newcomers, KCC all-rounder Peter Wooden and Pakistan Association's teenage fast bowler Aizaz Khan, will add strength to the squad in the US$150,000 tournament, which is also supported by Unirich Jewellers.'Peter is a great addition to the team. He is a solid hitter of the ball and a good left-arm spinner while Aizaz Khan is just raw talent,' Najeeb said. 'We are confident but it will be harder this time as no team will take it easy against us.'
Hong Kong are drawn with England, Australia and South Africa in the preliminary Bradman Group. The Sobers Group comprises India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The top two teams from each group will enter the cup competition and play another round-robin contest, with the top two meeting in the final.