Pakistan put their faith in rising stars

Pakistan have turned to youth as they attempt to win the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for a record fifth time.

The country’s selectors have chosen a team packed with rising talent for the 8-9 November showpiece at the Kowloon Cricket Club, for which tickets are selling fast.

Test star Faisal Iqbal – nephew of the great Javed Miandad – will lead the young squad.

“We view the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes as the perfect environment in which to blood our up-and-coming talent,” said Zakir Khan, director of cricket operations for the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“The tournament is, of course, fast and exciting and a lot of fun for everyone involved, but it is also extremely competitive and puts a lot of pressure on players to perform, so it is a good learning experience for our youngsters.

“Therefore, we have chosen a young squad of very promising players who we hope will go on to enjoy successful careers for Pakistan.”

The Pakistan selectors have high hopes for 20-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Talah, who already has best figures of 5-57 in his short first class career.

All-rounder Anwar Ali, also 20, has best figures of 6-54 in domestic cricket and has already represented Pakistan in the Twenty20 arena.

Explosive batsman Kamran Younis, 23, is averaging 46.33 in domestic Twenty20 cricket.

Leading the way will be Iqbal, a comparative veteran at age 26 with 21 tests and 18 one day internationals to his name.

The highlight of Iqbal’s test career so far is a masterful 139 versus India in Karachi in 2006.

“Of course, it is important for the team to contain some experience as well, which is why we have appointed Faisal Iqbal as captain,” added Khan.

“We know Pakistan have an outstanding record at the Sixes, so we trust this team to play well and give our many supporters both in Hong Kong and here at home plenty to cheer about.”

Pakistan have been drawn in a mouth-watering Bradman Group for this year’s tournament along with arch-rivals India, a powerful England squad and a big-hitting South African line-up.

The first day’s schedule will see Pakistan and India face off in the final group game of the day with a place in the Cup potentially at stake.

Pakistan won the inaugural Hong Kong Cricket Sixes in 1992 and triumphed again in 1997, 2001 and 2002. Only England can match their total of four wins in the event.

Sixes organisers have confirmed strong ticket sales for the 2008 tournament.

“We have already sold half of the 3,300 tickets available to the general public,” confirmed tournament director Mark Burns.

“The response from cricket fans has been excellent and we expect the event to again be a sell-out.

“In addition, all our corporate hospitality spaces have been sold, which is a fantastic result.”

Tickets for the 2008 Sixes – priced at $780 for adults and $450 for children – are on sale at the following locations:

• China Cricket International, Sheung Wan (Tel: 2543 8500)
• Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Central (Tel: 2810 6988)
• Hong Kong Cricket Club, Happy Valley (Tel: 3511 8668)
• Kowloon Cricket Club, Jordan (Tel: 2376 4141)

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the ICC and is the sport’s longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA’s proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

SQUADS
Pakistan: Faisal Iqbal (capt), Mohammad Salman, Waqas Ahmed, Raheel Majeed, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Talah, Kamran Younis.

England: Dimitri Mascarenhas (capt), Graham Napier, Darren Maddy, Tim Bresnan, Ed Joyce, Jonathan Trott, Graham Wagg.

South Africa: Thami Tsolekile (capt), Gulam Bodi, Loots Bosman, Alan Kruger, Jon-Jon Smuts, Roelof van der Merwe, Johann Louw.

ENDS