Hong Kong face stern test against Bangladesh Academy

Bangladesh National Academy will be heading to Hong Kong for a 6 day tour and they will challenge the Hong Kong side for three One Day Matches. The Team will arrive in Hong Kong on Jan 21st and will depart on Jan 27th.

This will be the first step for Team Hong Kong as they face a busy 2008 International calendar. Hong Kong's schedule includes a number of important tournaments such as the ACC Trophy 2008, ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and the all important Asia Cup.

The Bangladesh Academy Team is coached by former Bangladesh Test Captain Khaled Mahmud, who played 12 Tests and 77 ODIs for Bangladesh. The Team is captained by Mohammed Nazimuddin, who played a part in Bangladesh's Team in the ICC World Twenty20 held in 2007. The Team also has a number of players who have played International Cricket for Bangladesh and Graduates from Bangladesh U19 level.

"We are very grateful to Bangladesh Cricket Board to send such a strong team to HK to play our National Team" says Sohail Murshed, Chairman of HKCA International Committee, "we are very excited to view quality International Cricket being played in Hong Kong."

Aftab Habib, HK National Coach, adds "It's a good opportunity to play against a TEST Nation and excited with the young squad that we have."

The HK Selectors have named the Hong Kong Team for the first two games. Tabarak Dar will captain the team and Courtney Kurger was named Vice Captain. The team for the third game will be named by the selectors after the 1st game.

The Bangladesh Team arrives in Hong Kong on Monday Jan 21st and the match schedule is as stated below. The matches begin at 10:00am

* Jan 23rd: 1st ODI: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Academy at Hong Kong Cricket Club
* Jan 25th: 2nd ODI: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Academy at Kowloon Cricket Club
* Jan 26th: 3rd ODI: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Academy at Hong Kong Cricket Club

Bangladesh Academy Team:
Mohammed Nazimuddin (Captain), Khandaker Musharraf Hossain (Vice Captain), Imrul Kayes Sagar, Shake Nazmus Sadat, Md Roqibul Hassan, Md Mahmud Ullah, Dhiman Ghosh, Delwar Hossain, Shakil Haider, Zahirul Islam Omi, Md. Nayeem Islam, Talha Jubaer, Mahbubul Alam, Kazi Kamrul Islam

Officials: Khaled Mahmud Sujan (Manager and Coach), Md Sarwar Imran (Assistant Coach), Bayjedul Islam (Physio)

Hong Kong Team for 1st ODI
Tabarak Dar (Captain), Courtney Kruger (Vice Captain), Zain Abbas, Skhawat Ali, Irfan Ahmed, Aashih Gadia, Munir Dar, Jamshaid Khan, Waqas Barkat, Nadeem Ahmed, Zafaran Ali, 12th Man: Nizakat Khan

Hong Kong Team for 2nd ODI
Tabarak Dar (Captain), Courtney Kruger (Vice Captain), Toby Brown, Skhawat Ali, Irfan Ahmed, Aashih Gadia, Jawaid Iqbal, G Mustafa, Waqas Barkat, Nadeem Ahmed, Zafaran Ali, 12th Man: Niaz Ali

Officials: Aftab Habib (Coach), Ravi Nagdev (Manager), Philippa Stewart & Robert Lui (Physio)

For more information on the Bangladesh Academy please contact Mr Charles Lau at 2504 8102.