Hong Kong cricketers register for Pakistan Super League draft, as ICC tournament in Uganda is postponed
- Captain Nizakat Khan and predecessor Aizaz Khan among those hoping to be selected on Sunday
- Hong Kong had been expecting to play in ICC Challenge League Group B tournament at the same time, but sources say that has been delayed
Hong Kong cricket captain Nizakat Khan is among seven of the city’s top cricketers who have registered to be eligible for the Pakistan Super League, which begins next month.
The draft for the T20 competition, which could include the likes of Chris Gayle, Imran Tahir, and Alex Hayles, is expected to take place on December 12, with the first game on January 27 and the final a month later.
Khan and his predecessor Aizaz Khan will both be available, with sources saying the ICC Challenge League B tournament Hong Kong were scheduled to play in Uganda between January 20 and February 3 has been postponed.
In total more than 400 players have registered for the draft, with over 100 from associate nations, and alongside Aizaz Khan and Nizakat Khan, other Hong Kong cricketers keen to take part are Ehsan Khan, Ehsan Nawaz, Kinchit Shah and Haroon Arshad.
Sunday’s draft will be held in Lahore, one of two cities that will host 34 matches over the course of the tournament. Fifteen games will be played in Karachi from January 27 to February 7, with the cricket then switching to the Gaddafi Stadium for the remaining matches and the final.
The six franchises involved - Islamabad United, Multan Sultan, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings - can select either a 16 or 18-player squad.
A smaller squad must include five foreign and 11 local players, while the larger squads can have six and 12, or five foreign and 13 local. Cricketers are placed in categories, with the likes of Gayle, Tahir and Liam Livingstone considered platinum players.