As the 2016-17 Hong Kong Premier League gets underway this weekend, bc, with the help of Hong Kong Cricket Association Director of Cricket Charlie Burke, previews the five teams competing for the prestigious 1-day tournament.
“It’s a cliché I know; however, I genuinely feel this season’s Premier League will be the strongest yet with all five sides capable of beating each other,” Charlie Burke. “The test will be consistency and game plans as we watch with anticipation who will win the 2016-17 Premier League title.”
“It is great to see players such as Giacomo Lamplough, Ehsan Nawaz, Ehsan Khan and Ninad Shah all come through the Premier League structure and have earned a spot on the National squad.”
“The performance of our national team players in this competition is a critical part of their ongoing selection in the national team and a great chance for some guys that have sights set on playing for Hong Kong to push for selection and potentially even contracts,” added Burke.
The league opens with defending champions Little Sai Wan taking on Pakistan Association this Sunday – 9:30am at Tin Kwong Road. While Hong Kong Cricket Club will face Kowloon Cricket Club at home starting at 10am.
Little Sai Wan Cricket Club
“Defending Champions Little Sai Wan will again be really hard to beat, however the loss of Moner Dar may put pressure on the club’s middle order and responsibility will be handed to the likes of Babar Hayat and new captain Ehsan Khan who has just made his debut for Hong Kong.” – Charlie Burke
“Little Sai Wan are confident to defend our title in the Premier League and will continue to play our own brand of cricket emphasizing on teamwork and commitment towards the club. We have great confidence in our new Captain Ehsan Khan along with vice-captain, Babar Hayat and our coach Ghulam Saqlain to deliver the goods. We look forward to the new season, it will be a challenging one both on and off the field.” – Tony Mehta, DLSWCC President
Squad: Ahmed, Nadeem; Ali, Niaz; Haroon, Arshad; Hayat, Babar; Khan, Anas; Khan, Ehsan (Captain); Khan, Jangzeb; Khan, Waqas; Singh, Amanadeep; Singh, Karandeep; Wasif, Shahid
Kowloon Cricket Club
“Kowloon Cricket Club will be disappointed at not winning the competition last season and go into this season’s competition as favorites with a line-up that includes 7 current internationals, former national vice-captain and two other National squad players along with KCC Cricketer of the year from last season in Dan Pascoe.” – Charlie Burke
“KCC are very much looking forward to what should be an extremely competitive Premier League season. I am especially looking forward to watching the development of our Hong Kong National Players in my squad as the push for selection at the highest level. Players to watch are Ninad Shah, Tanveer Ahmed & Chris Carter.” – Ryan Campbell, KCC Cricket Operations Manager
“KCC are again delighted to be part of the 2016-17 Premier League. KCC has a proud tradition of being part of the PL since the inception of the PL. KCC has won the PL on several occasions. We also at KCC have over the years produced national players and as well as national captains. I would like to wish the KCC PL team a successful season and all you have made us proud.” – Shiroy Vachha, KCC Captain of Cricket
Squad: Ahmed Tanveer; Arif Imran; Atkinson James (Captain); Barkat Waqas; Campbell Ryan; Carter Christopher; Mehmood Adil; Nawaz Ehsan; Pascoe Daniel; Shah Kinchit; Shah Ninad
Hong Kong Cricket Club
“Hong Kong Cricket Club have always been really tough to beat up at the gap and I expect the two new faces from the UK in Buckley and Harte to make a big impact along with some young gun from Hong Kong Cricket in Lamplough and Kapur, they also have an exceptional new coach in Craig Wright.” – Charlie Burke
“The 2016-2017 Premier League season is a very important one for HKCC. We have traditionally done very well in this league and after finishing third last season we are extremely intent on restoring order and getting back to winning ways. We have had a very good pre-season with new coach Craig Wright and a few fresh faces in the squad signals our intent on winning the Championship. The competition is stronger than it has ever been before which is a testament to the hard work put in by the Association to continue to develop the game here in Hong Kong.” Courtney Kruger, HKCC Captain
Squad: Buckley Ryan; Chapman Mark; Cutler Tim; Harte Gareth; Jacquier David (wk); Kapur Raag; Khan Nizakat; Kruger Courtney (Captain); Lamplough Giacomo; Mckechnie Scott; Rath Anshuman
Pakistan Association
“Pakistan Association have probably underperformed over the last few seasons and will be without one of Hong Kong Cricket’s biggest stars in Hussain Butt who has decided to allow the youngsters an opportunity. The off season has seen huge improvements in Aizaz Khan who will no doubt bat high up the order as well as his Hong Kong team mate Tanwir Afzal who has just come off winning last season’s cricket of the year award.” – Charlie Burke
“PACC is ready for the highlights in the Premier League and looking forward to do better in the season with all the talented players like Tanwir Afzal the team captain, Daniyal Bukhari who is a talented batsman and very keen to face new ball. Ishtiaq Mohammed who is a hard worker and great planner, and Hamed Khan who is a young talented player with a great future for PACC and the Hong Kong national team.”
– Kabir Hussain, PACC Team Manager
Squad: Afzal Tanwir (Captain); Khan Aizaz; Bukhari Daniyal S; Mohammed Ishtiaq; Ali Skhawat; Khan Mohsan; Singh Manjindar; Abbasi Ali Ahsan; Khan Saqib; Khan Qasim; Khan Hamed
Cricket Hong Kong Independents XI
“The Cricket Hong Kong Independents XI will have a great mix of some exciting or emerging talents as well as some consistent Elite league performers and won’t be any pushed over this season, in fact I expect a few upsets along the way.” – Charlie Burke
Squad: Balal Mohammad (USRC-MCC); Caddy Ashley (KCC); Khan Akbar (SLCC) Khan Mohsin (DLSWCC); Amjad Haseeb (USRC-MCC); Li Ming (HKCA Pioneers); Mohammad Awais (USRC-MCC); Saad Mohammad (Vagabonds); Sikander Zafar (USRC-MCC); Stiller Matt (KCC); Umar Mohammad (USRC-MCC)
Additional reporting and photos: HKcricket