Hong Kong aims for the Asian Games

Hong Kong has started a campaign to find and groom cricketers of sufficient quality to represent them in both the men's and women's T20 events at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November 2010.

Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) General Manager Danny Lai said: "The 'passport-holders only' rule is a key factor for selection at the Asian Games. Our men's team will have no problems since all players of Pakistani origin have Hong Kong passports. The squad to Guangzhou will feature the best of the U19s currently in New Zealand for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup as well as senior players."

The women's team is currently made up largely of expatriate passport holders and fielding the same team that won the 2009 ACC Women's Twenty20 Championship will be impossible. "We are looking though to bring in new eligible players. We had a recruitment campaign through schools and universities and so far around 50 have come through, with more to come. The women's team in Guangzhou may not be the strongest but we'll have expanded the pool of available talent for the future and in doing so have built more awareness for the game here," he said.

A three-month skill development program for all new players was started by the Hong Kong Cricket Association at the end of last year.

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