Asia Cup 2018 – Hong Kong showed against India they deserve one-day international status, says Dean Jones
Commentator and former cricketer says the ICC should provide more opportunities for associate members to show what they can do
Hong Kong’s performance against India in the Asia Cup is proof that they should have their one-day international status returned to them, said former Australia batsman and television commentator Dean Jones.
Hong Kong, led by 20-year-old Anshuman Rath – the youngest of six captains at the Asia Cup in Dubai – gave India a fright with their run chase on Tuesday, falling 26 runs short of victory after scoring 259 for eight.
Writing on Twitter, Jones said: “If @ICC had any heart with the recent BRILLIANT performances of @CricketHK Then they SHOULD AWARD THEM ODI STATUS! Honestly, if ICC are serious at trying to build and develop the game in there (sic) region.”
Hong Kong spent four long years playing in the second division of world cricket, becoming one of the best associate member teams despite limited resources and earning official one-day status.
However, it all unravelled in one tournament – the ICC World Cup qualifier earlier this year – when Hong Kong finished in the bottom two and lost their ODI status. Their one victory was against Afghanistan, who beat Sri Lanka this week in the Asia Cup.
When questioned on Twitter on his views, Jones pointed out that the Hong Kong players have managed to maintain a high level among associate members despite limited funding from the International Cricket Council and lack of regular top-level match experience.
He wrote: “My point re appointing their ODI status back … is currently, that they DO NOT receive any grants from @ICC and they need $$$ to help them develop the game in their region. And I think they deserve it.”
