Hong Kong’s plan to grow ‘skeletal’ women’s cricket talent pool and challenge Asian elite
City team beat Malaysia but bigger tests to come with Asian Games qualification on the line this month at seven-team tournament
Mamatha Maben has started hatching a four-year plan to add flesh to the “skeletal” talent pool in Hong Kong women’s cricket, with a view to challenging for honours at the 2031 Asian Games.
In charge for nearly six months, Maben drew some satisfaction from a 31-run victory over Malaysia on Thursday at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, having begun her reign with a 2-2 series draw against the same opponents back in December.
“Credit to the players, when we started in Malaysia they looked like a club side,” Maben said. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re also not where we used to be.”
The latest meeting with Malaysia was Hong Kong’s first match of a tri-series, also featuring China, that is acting as final preparation for the 2026 Asian Games qualifying tournament from May 23.
Currently ranked world No 23, Hong Kong are grouped with hosts Malaysia, ranked 28, and world No 12 team Thailand in the eight-day, seven-team tournament that will provide three spots in the Games later this year.
Estimating that eligibility rules would leave her without roughly 60 per cent of her first-choice team, Maben said she was “realistic” over Hong Kong’s qualification chances.