18-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cricketer Rath on lasting England regret and overcoming India rejection
Anshuman Rath said he had 'still not fully got over' the collapse of his English county cricket dream eight years ago, and considered walking away from the game entirely when his time in India turned sour.
Hong Kong will be happy he did not. The opening batsman has been a mainstay in the city side since his return, having rediscovered his joy in the game.
And it is a very different Rath to the one who expected to join Middlesex in 2017, only to fall foul of visa regulations after five years living in the UK.
Two years later he found himself in India, where after three years of ups and downs he returned to Hong Kong 'overweight and ready to move on with life'.
'What could have been lingers in my mind,' Rath said. 'It wasn't meant to be, but when I see mates I grew up with playing county cricket, it hurts a bit.'
Anshuman Rath (right) makes his ground amid a run-out appeal from Uganda wicketkeeper Fred Achelam. Photo: Dickson Lee
Born in Hong Kong to Indian parents, Rath said it was 'kismet' that he left, aged 14, to board at Harrow School.
