Lankans ready to retain title

CHRIS DHAMBARAGE

A staggering amount of US dollars 300,000 will be on offer as prize money for this years annual Hong Kong six a side cricket tournament which will be worked off on November 8 and 9 at the Kowloon Cricket Club grounds in Hong Kong.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited. First played in 1992, the tournament is fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and backed by the boards of the test playing nations.

England, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa - all have triumphed at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. In fact Sri Lanka will be hoping to retain the title for the second successive year after having defeated the All Stars team by 16 runs in last year’s final encounter.

Four of the players who helped Sri Lanka to their maiden Hong Kong Cricket Sixes triumph last year have been included in the team that will defend the title next week.

The three newcomers include talented all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon, who has played for his country at test level and in last year’s Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

Sri Lanka went on to win by 16 runs for their first Sixes success in 11 attempts. In fact Sri Lanka have been drawn in the Sobers Group together with the 2008 All-Stars, Australia and Hong Kong.

The tournament has been further boosted with the inclusion of living legend Sanath Jayasuriya who will showcase his devastating batting skills for the All Stars team.

The Sri Lankan ace - one of the most lethal hitters in the game will join an awesome All-Stars team that already contains test greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming and Matthew Hoggard.

The All-Stars have been pooled with defending champions Sri Lanka in the Sobers Group, meaning Jayasuriya will face a meeting with his countrymen on day one of the tournament.

The Bradman Group contains India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

Hosts Hong Kong have included in their squad five of the players who helped them win the ACC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur in August.

Hong Kong will once again be captained by Manoj Cheruparambil while the squad is rounded out by Phil Pemberton. Cheruparambil, Pemberton and Dar all played in last year’s Sixes.

The past winners of the Hong Kong Sixes: 1992 (Pakistan), 1993 (England), 1994 (England), 1995 (South Africa), 1996 (West Indies), 1997 (Pakistan), 1998, 1999, 2000 (not held) 2001 (Pakistan), 2002 (Pakistan), 2003 (England), 2004 (England), 2005 (India), 2006 (South Africa), 2007 (Sri Lanka).