Hong Kong gears up for Sixes

The draw has been made for the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, which takes place on the 27th and 28th of October.

Defending champions Pakistan join the hosts, along with England, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Netherlands, who are returning for the first time since 1996.

President of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), Captain Shahzada Saleem Ahmed, is once again eagerly anticipating what has become a staple of the cricket calendar.

He said: "Since first hosting the event in 1992, Cricket Sixes has become a popular and entertaining format the world over, while also giving rise to abbreviated codes of the game like Twenty20. The Hong Kong Sixes looks forward to continuing our tradition of innovation and world-class sporting entertainment in 2012 and for decades to come."

Pakistan and England, as last year's finalists, have been kept apart in the draw with the holders coming up against Sri Lanka, India and Netherlands in Group B and England facing South Africa, Australia and the hosts.

Hong Kong will be looking to go one step further after a good showing in 2011.

Hong Kong National Coach Charlie Burke said: "I believe the seven players in the Hong Kong team for this year's Sixes are capable of winning the title for the first time ever. We lost in the semi-final last year against eventual winners Pakistan which really hurt the guys. We have a simple game plan that we all stick too and we look forward to showcasing our skills in front of our supporters."