Latest news with #ChallengeLeagueB
South China Morning Post
15-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cricket's grand old man says ODI dream still alive before Italy clash
Published: 4:05pm, 15 Feb 2025 A bullish Ehsan Khan remained optimistic Hong Kong would resuscitate their Challenge League B campaign in what has become a critical meeting with Italy on Sunday. With only the two leading teams following next year's third leg staying in contention to achieve ODI status and 2027 World Cup qualification, Hong Kong are fixed in third following a damaging 48 hours in midweek. A heavy loss to Uganda came after Wednesday's game against minnows Tanzania was washed out. Another defeat against second-placed Italy would leave daylight between Hong Kong and the top two. Elder statesman Khan, 40, claimed 29 wickets in 15 ODIs after making his Hong Kong debut in 2016. His prize scalps included the superstar Indian duo of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Ehsan Khan flights a delivery during last November's Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. Photo: Takumi Images Hong Kong surrendered their ODI status in 2018, and Khan said he would play for 'at least another two to three years' in the hope of 'seeing that standard of cricket again with my teammates'.
South China Morning Post
07-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
India cricket stars backing Uganda during Hong Kong Challenge League campaign
Uganda cricketer Alpesh Ramjani has revealed that a handful of Indian superstars will cheer on his team during their Challenge League B campaign in Hong Kong. Ramjani, who was in the 2023 ICC T20 Internationals team of the year after claiming a record 55 wickets in a single calendar year, moved to Uganda in 2021 after his construction job in India became a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. The slow-left-arm bowler was instrumental in Uganda's qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was won by an India team featuring his former domestic cricket teammates Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. The global tournament, where Uganda won one of their four matches, was especially poignant for Ramjani, 30, who lost his father, Ravilal, in January last year after a long illness. 'Dad was the one who was always inspiring me to reach the highest level,' Ramjani said. 'He watched all the qualification matches, but he could not watch me at the World Cup. His blessings are still with me and I am always motivated to do well for him.' Ramjani's economy rate of 4.75 from 54 T20Is, since his 2022 debut, is second in the world only to the 4.69 of 44-year-old teammate Frank Nsubuga.
South China Morning Post
05-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Nizakat wants to be Hong Kong match-winner after shedding captaincy strain
Published: 5:15pm, 5 Feb 2025 A 'more relaxed' Nizakat Khan said shedding captaincy duties would release him to win more matches for Hong Kong, as they prepare to start their critical Challenge League B campaign against Singapore on Thursday. Khan made what he called the tough decision to end his three-year leadership reign following November's first Challenge League leg in Uganda. In his opening two matches under successor Yasim Murtaza, and batting in his favourite No 4 spot, Khan contributed 84 and an unbeaten 42 against Uganda and Bahrain respectively as Hong Kong won a warm-up tri-series last week. Khan said aspects of captaincy, including game planning, always thinking about where to fit players and 'making decisions that mean players are unhappy with you', were draining. Khan, seen here toasting a half-century as captain, said he had room to improve. Photo: Cricket Hong Kong, China 'The biggest challenge was keeping everyone together as a team, but they all respected me and listened to me,' Khan said.
