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Paul McNamara

Zeeshan Ali says Hong Kong are aching to escape the backwaters of Challenge League cricket and “show what we are capable of” on the world stage.
Hong Kong begin the latest three-year Challenge League B cycle with five one-day matches over the next nine days in Uganda.
Head coach Simon Willis and captain Nizakat Khan have united to emphasise the importance of the competition, which provides a potential gateway to Hong Kong recapturing their one-day international status and all the benefits that would bring for the city’s players and administrators.
Swashbuckling opening batsman Ali was one of three players, along with Nizakat and spin-bowler Ehsan Khan, who dashed to East Africa from the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, which finished on Sunday, for their team’s first game against Bahrain on Thursday.
They meet Italy two days later and face the hosts the following day. Games against Tanzania and Singapore follow next Tuesday and Friday, respectively.

A player who has enjoyed a late-career renaissance after claiming the wicketkeeper’s gloves following Willis’s appointment in March 2023, Ali acknowledged Challenge League audiences were typically limited to cricket diehards.
“We are not playing one-day internationals [ODIs], but we have a lot of talented players and we want to show what we are capable of, so this tournament is vital,” Ali said. “If you compete in ODIs, people recognise you, and it would be really valuable for Hong Kong to have that standard of cricket.”
Ali name-checked Babar Hayat, captain Nizakat, all-rounder Yasim Murtaza, and the bowling pair of Khan and Anshy Rath as players who belonged in first-rate company.
The 35-year-old could fairly have listed himself in the same bracket. He has given Hong Kong a number of express starts since being bumped up to open from the middle order two months ago, while Willis said his bowlers were now “smiling when they see [Ali] behind the wicket”.
The player, who made his Hong Kong debut in 2022, partially attributed his fine form to the hard work he has invested out of the fear of “letting down my team”.
“In the middle, I am always thinking that I am representing Hong Kong and I don’t want to let down my guys,” Ali said. “That’s why I always put in everything. If you play for Hong Kong, you have to be fit and perform.
“I work on my skills and try to correct past mistakes, because I don’t want to repeat them.”
Willis verified Ali’s account over his commitment to improving. A former wicketkeeper for Kent, the Englishman said he had “made [Ali] aware of some technical issues with his keeping”.
“There was an element of fitness that stopped him doing certain things, too,” Willis added. “Immediately, he said he’d not had much keeping coaching and that he loved it. He’s seen the rewards, particularly keeping up to the stumps, which was where he was perceived to be weak.”
From a batting perspective, Ali worked with Willis to devise methods against both the short ball and left-arm spin aimed into his body.
“You can only be pleased for somebody when they have success after investing that much hard work,” Willis said.
Ali said Hong Kong “learned a lot” from last month’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman, where they competed against A teams from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
“We lost a couple of games, but the fast bowlers did really well on flat pitches, and Babar and Nizakat scored runs,” Ali said. “The boys are in good touch, I am really proud of my team. We are all fighters and never give up. There is a strong bond between us.”


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Sport

Cricket

Head coach Simon Willis’ team begin their Challenge League campaign against Bahrain in Uganda on Thursday


Head coach Simon Willis’ team begin their Challenge League campaign against Bahrain in Uganda on Thursday.


ICC Cricket World Cup

Uganda

Hong Kong cricket ‘fighters’ craving global spotlight ahead of crucial Uganda tournament

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Head coach Simon Willis’ team begin their Challenge League campaign against Bahrain in Uganda on Thursday

Head coach Simon Willis’ team begin their Challenge League campaign against Bahrain in Uganda on Thursday