Pakistan vs Pakistan? Wrong! We are Hong Kong, says Nizakat Khan ahead of their opening Asia Cup one-day clash
Many of the Hong Kong squad once harboured dreams of playing for Pakistan but now their only thoughts are to beat them
Hong Kong batsman Nizakat Khan wanted to play for Pakistan as a youngster. Now he wants to beat them and he has a chance to do just that on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Pakistan-born Nizakat is one of about a dozen Hong Kong cricketers who can trace their origin to the country. Although some Pakistani social media users have dismissed the clash as Pakistan A v Pakistan B, there will be no sympathy for the motherland from the Hong Kong players when they face the test nation in their opening pool A match in Dubai.
“Of course, growing up I wanted to play for Pakistan,” said Nizakat. “But then I moved back to Hong Kong and started playing cricket at school level. I represented Hong Kong at junior level and then national level and now we are here [in Dubai].
“My dream was to represent a country and now I am representing Hong Kong and Hong Kong is my first country now and I want to do my best at this level.
“It’s going to feel amazing. It was my dream to play against Pakistan and we have worked very hard to take the spot in the Asia Cup.”
Hong Kong earned their place in the Asia Cup by winning the qualifying tournament last week, beating United Arab Emirates in a thrilling, rain-affected final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.