New Hong Kong cricket coach aims to liberate stifled squad as tough Asia Cup tests loom

Kaushal Silva has vowed to help Hong Kong’s underachieving cricketers “express and enjoy themselves”, and urged his squad to begin the long march back to international relevance at the forthcoming T20 Asia Cup.

The city team have too often flattered to deceive over the past few years, showing flashes of individual and collective promise, only to wilt under pressure.

But the former Sri Lanka test batsman, who was made the team’s new head coach in July, said it was pointless dwelling on the past.

“We can’t take back what’s happened … what we can create in the next couple of years is more important,” Silva said. “Are we strong enough to do it? I’m going to work with the players to get that mindset right.”

Poor qualifying performances 12 months ago cost Hong Kong their chance of going to next year’s T20 World Cup, while home defeats by Uganda and Italy this year ended any possibility of recapturing their ODI status until 2030 at the earliest.

“I want to create an environment that is fun and where players can better express and enjoy themselves, rather than worrying too much about the outcome,” Silva said. “It’s important they play with freedom.