Hong Kong cricket team

Infobox non test cricket team
country_name = Hong Kong


image_caption = Hong Kong Cricket Association logo
icc_member_year = 1969
icc_status = Associate member
icc_region = Asia
current_captain = Tabarak Dar
WCL_division = Four
regional_tournament = ACC Trophy
regional_tournament_division = Champions
first_match = 1866 v Shanghai
world_ranking = 25th
regional_ranking = 3rd
icc_trophy_apps = 6
icc_trophy_first = 1982
icc_trophy_best = 8th place, 1997
odi_matches = 4
odi_win_loss_record = 0/4
fc_matches = 2
fc_win_loss_record = 0/1
la_matches = 2
la_win_loss_record = 0/2
asofdate = 27 June 2008

The Hong Kong cricket team is a team representing the Chinese Special administrative region of Hong Kong in international cricket. They played their first match in 1866 [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/HKG/HISTORY/CHRONOLOGY.html Chronology of Hong Kong cricket] ] and have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1969. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Countries/58.html Hong Kong] at CricketArchive]

They played their first One Day Internationals in the 2004 Asia Cup [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Records/HongKong/Odis/Odi_List.html List of Hong Kong ODIs] at CricketArchive] and have played in every ICC Trophy since the 1982 tournament with the exception of the most recent event. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Records/HongKong/Icct/Icct_List.html ICC Trophy matches played by Hong Kong] at CricketArchive] They played in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in the 2005 tournament, [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2005/TOURNAMENTS/INTERCONTINENTAL/about.shtml 2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup] at CricketEurope] and are currently ranked at 25th in the World by the ICC and are the third highest ranked Asian non-Test nation. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/one-day_rankings.html ICC's One-Day rankings] ] Dead link|date=June 2008

History

Early years

The sport was introduced to Hong Kong by the English, with the first recorded game taking place in 1841, and the Hong Kong Cricket Club being founded ten years later. The Cricket Club played a number of interport matches against sides on the Chinese mainland, the first taking place against Shanghai in 1866, and in 1890 played Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) for the first time.

1892 saw disaster when the "SS Bokhara", which was carrying the team back from Shanghai, sank in a typhoon with the loss of 125 lives. There were only 23 survivors, which included only 2 of the 13 team members. The other 11 members of the team were lost. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/HKG/HISTORY/BOKHARA.html Sinking of the SS Bokhara] , Hong Kong Cricket Association official site]

1948 saw the last game against Shanghai. After the communist take-over in 1949, no more games were possible in China. Jack Chegwyn led the first international team to Hong Kong in 1952, and the first tour by an MCC team was in 1966. The MCC, captained by Mike Smith played one match against the national side, winning by 74 runs. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/104/104465.html Scorecard] of Hong Kong v MCC, 19 March 1966 at CricketArchive] In 1969 the Hong Kong Cricket Association became an associate member of the International Cricket Council, cricket's global ruling body.

ICC membership

The year after gaining ICC membership, the Hong Kong national side played against an MCC side captained by Tony Lewis, drawing the game, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/97/97142.html Scorecard] of Hong Kong v MCC, 15 March 1970 at CricketArchive] but it was not until the 1982 ICC Trophy when the Hong Kong team next played. At that tournament the Hong Kong team, which featured future England Test cricketer Dermot Reeve, failed to progress beyond the first round. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT82/ 1982 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]

Hong Kong took part in the following three ICC Trophy tournaments, again failing to progress beyond the first round in 1986 [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT86/ 1986 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] , reaching the plate competition in 1990 [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT90/ 1990 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] and the second round in 1994. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT94/ 1994 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] They then played in the first ACC Trophy in 1996, failing to progress beyond the first round after finishing third to Bangladesh and Fiji. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1996 ACC Trophy] at CricketEurope]

In 1997, Hong Kong returned to Chinese control and the year also saw Hong Kong record their best finish in the ICC Trophy, finishing in eighth place. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT97/ 1997 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] They played in the ACC Trophy again in 1998, losing to Malaysia in the semi-finals. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1998/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1998 ACC Trophy] at CricketEurope] .

21st century

In 2000, Hong Kong reached the final of the ACC Trophy, [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2000/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 2000 ACC Trophy] at CricketEurope] qualifying for the 2002 Asia Cup, which was subsequently moved to 2004. They failed to progress beyond the first round of the 2001 ICC Trophy [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT2001/ 2001 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] and lost to the UAE in the semi-finals of the ACC Trophy the following year. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2002/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 2002 ACC Trophy] at CricketEurope] Their first taste of One-Day International cricket came in the 2004 Asia Cup, where they lost both first round matches to Bangladesh and Pakistan. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/Asia_Cup_2004.html 2004 Asia Cup points table] at CricketArchive]

Also in 2004, Hong Kong failed to progress beyond the first round of the ACC Trophy after losing in the group stages to Oman and Bahrain, missing out on qualification for the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/ICCT2005/DATABASE/QUALIFYING/asia.shtml 2005 ICC Trophy official website - Asian qualifying] ] They also reached the final of the Fast-track nations tournament, losing to the UAE. Hong Kong played in the Intercontinental Cup for the first time in 2005. They lost to the UAE and drew with Nepal, failing to reach the semi-finals. They finished last in the fast-track nations tournament the same year. [http://www.asiancricket.org/h_ftctpoints0506.cfm 2005/06 Fast-track nations tournament] at Asian Cricket Council official website]

In 2006, Hong Kong again lost to the UAE in the final of the ACC Trophy, [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/WCLACCT/about.shtml 2006 ACC Trophy] at CricketEurope] and finished fourth in the ACC Premier League. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/ACCPREMIER/about.shtml 2006/07 ACC Premier League] at CricketEurope] The following year, they travelled to Darwin, Australia to take part in Division Three of the World Cricket League, finishing fifth, [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2007/TOURNAMENTS/WCLDIV3/about.shtml 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division Three] at CricketEurope] relegating them to Division Four for 2008. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000046/004698.shtml Uganda lift Division Three title] by Andrew Nixon, 2 June 2007 at CricketEurope]

In October/November 2007, Hong Kong took part in the inaugural ACC Twenty20 Cup held in Kuwait, where they played in Group B against the UAE, Singapore, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong finished 4th in their group and failed to make to the semi-finals stage.

Tournament History

ICC Intercontinental Cup

*2004: Did not participate [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2004/TOURNAMENTS/INTERCONTINENTAL/about.shtml 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup] at CricketEurope]
*2005: First round
*2006/07: Did not participate [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/INTERCONTINENTAL/about.shtml 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup] at CricketEurope]
*2007/08: Did not participate

World Cricket League

*2007: Division Three 5th place

ICC Trophy

*1979: Did not participate
*1982: First round
*1986: First round
*1990: Plate competition
*1994: Second round
*1997: 8th place
*2001: First round
*2005: Did not qualify

Asia Cup

*1983 to 1995 inclusive: Did not participate
*1997: Did not qualify
*2000: Did not qualify
*2004: First round
*2008: First round [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/Asia_Cup_2008.html]

ACC Trophy

*1996: First round
*1998: Semi Finals
*2000: Runners up
*2002: Semi Finals
*2004: First round
*2006: Runners up
*2008: Won [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/180/180216.html Scorecard] of Hong Kong v UAE, 3 August 2008 at CricketArchive]

ACC Twenty20 Cup

*2007: First round

ACC Premier League

*2004/05: Runners-up
*2005/06: 5th place
*2006/07: 4th place

The future

In June 2008, Hong Kong took part in the Asia Cup in Pakistan. They failed to progress beyond the group stage to the Super Four stage, as they lost both of their group A matches against India and Pakistan convincingly.

In October 2008, they will participate in Division Four of the World Cricket League in Tanzania, where they will play against Tanzania, Italy, Fiji and the two qualifiers from Division Five; Afghanistan and Jersey.

Players

Current squad

Hong Kong's squad for the 2007 ACC Twenty20 Cup is as follows: [ [http://www.asiancricket.org/cnt_07_2020_hk.cfm Hong Kong squad for the 2007 ACC Twenty20 Cup] at the official website of the Asian Cricket Council]

*Tabarak Dar (Captain)
*Courtney Kruger
*Afzaal Haider
*Ayub Khan
*Hussain Butt
*Ilyas Gul
*Imran Idrees
*Najeeb Amar
*Nasir Hameed
*Rafaqat Ali
*Skhawat Ali
*Sher Lama
*Tiku Patidar
*Zain Abbas

Other players

The following Hong Kong cricketers have played first-class or List A cricket for teams other than Hong Kong: [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/HKG.html Hong Kong players] at CricketArchive]

*Afzaal Haider - played first-class and List A cricket for various teams in Pakistan [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/18/18770/18770.html Afzaal Haider] at CricketArchive]
*Steve Atkinson - played List A cricket for Durham, also played internationally for the Netherlands [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15312/15312.html Steve Atkinson] at CricketArchive]
*Bruce Abernethy - Played first-class and List A cricket for Otago
*Alexander French - played List A cricket for Wales Minor Counties [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/5/5429/5429.html Alexander French] at CricketArchive]
*Jonathan Orders - played first-class cricket for Oxford University [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15337/15337.html Jonathan Orders] at CricketArchive]
*Rahul Sharma - played first-class cricket for Delhi [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/5/5433/5433.html Rahul Sharma] at CricketArchive]
*Clive Garthwaite - played for the British Army in 1930 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/29/29601/29601.html Clive Garthwaite] at CricketArchive]
*Alec Pearce - played for Kent between 1930 and 1946 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/31/31963/31963.html Alec Pearce] at CricketArchive]
*Peter Williams - played for Sussex in 1919 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/33/33907/33907.html Peter Williams] at CricketArchive]
*Alfred Musson - played for the British Army in 1925 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3325/3325.html Alfred Musson] at CricketArchive]
*Francis Wyatt - played for Hampshire and Orange Free State between 1905 and 1919 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6940/6940.html Francis Wyatt] at CricketArchive]
*Jack Dale - played for Northamptonshire in 1922 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/28/28927/28927.html Jack Dale] at CricketArchive]
*Eric Morris - played for Bihar in 1936 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/14/14159/14159.html Eric Morris] at CricketArchive]
*Philip Davies - played first-class cricket for various teams in England between 1913 and 1927 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/28/28972/28972.html Philip Davies] at CricketArchive]
*Frank Garnett - played for England against India in 1918 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/13/13494/13494.html Frank Garnett] at CricketArchive]
*Henry Baird - played for the MCC between 1910 and 1912 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/27/27616/27616.html Henry Baird] at CricketArchive]
*Edward Haughton - played for the Europeans in India between 1912 and 1914 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/13/13646/13646.html Edward Haughton] at CricketArchive]
*Hugh Stanger-Leathes - played for the Europeans in India in 1905 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/14/14618/14618.html Hugh Stranger-Leathes] at CricketArchive]
*Percy Heath - played for the Europeans in India between 1901 and 1909 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/13/13663/13663.html Percy Heath] at CricketArchive]
*JT Dixon - played for Middlesex in 1908 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/29/29093/29093.html JT Dixon] at CricketArchive]
*James Airy - played for the Europeans in India between 1905 and 1908 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/12/12615/12615.html James Airy] at CricketArchive]
*William Lumsden - played for the Europeans in India in 1902 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/13/13977/13977.html William Lumsden] at CricketArchive]
*Dermot Reeve - played Test cricket for England [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/2/2001/2001.html Dermot Reeve] at CricketArchive]

Lists of players

*List of Hong Kong ODI cricketers

References

ee also

*Hong Kong national cricket captains
*Hong Kong women's cricket team

External links

* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/HKG/ Hong Kong Cricket Association]