Hong Kong refused warm-up matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board has turned down a request by Hong Kong for warm-up matches ahead of the Asia Cup, which begins on June 24, citing logistical reasons.

"The Hong Kong Cricket Association had asked us for some warm-up matches in Lahore as part of their preparation for the Asia Cup," Zakir Khan, the PCB's director of operations, told Cricinfo. "We refused and said they must arrive on June 21, according to the Asian Cricket Council's approval for every team."

It is learnt that Hong Kong had wanted to come ten days before the event to warm up, at which time the PCB would be in the final stages of preparation for the tournament.

A board official denied an earlier report that security reasons were behind the scrapping. "Hong Kong were in Pakistan a month ago on a development tour so the question of security is a non-starter," he said.

Hong Kong face hosts Pakistan in their opening game in Karachi on June 24.