‘It’s difficult to be a cricketer in Hong Kong’ – Chris Carter ends professional contract to pursue a career as a pilot
The Hong Kong-born Australian has left for Adelaide where he will start to train as an airline pilot, with lack of funding playing a part in his decision
Hong Kong’s Chris Carter has ended his tenure as a professional cricketer in the city, moving to Australia to pursue a career as a pilot.
The 21-year-old Carter said the lack of career opportunities in cricket forced him to return to his studies, which he put on hold two years ago so he could play full-time for the Hong Kong senior squad.
“I already put my studies on hold before but I think it’s time to do what I’ve always wanted to do, and that is to become a pilot,” said Carter, who was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Perth.
“It is difficult to be a cricketer in Hong Kong given the lack of funding. People within CHK [Cricket Hong Kong] work so hard to try and allow us to play on a full-time basis.
“The likes of Mark Wright and Simon Cook really do their best, but they are not supported well enough by the government or the ICC,” added Carter, who helped Hong Kong win the Asia Cup qualifier in Malaysia last month before playing in the finals against Pakistan and India.