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Paul McNamara

Mamatha Maben has started hatching a four-year plan to add flesh to the “skeletal” talent pool in Hong Kong women’s cricket, with a view to challenging for honours at the 2031 Asian Games.
In charge for nearly six months, Maben drew some satisfaction from a 31-run victory over Malaysia on Thursday at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, having begun her reign with a 2-2 series draw against the same opponents back in December.
“Credit to the players, when we started in Malaysia they looked like a club side,” Maben said. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re also not where we used to be.”
The latest meeting with Malaysia was Hong Kong’s first match of a tri-series, also featuring China, that is acting as final preparation for the 2026 Asian Games qualifying tournament from May 23.
Currently ranked world No 23, Hong Kong are grouped with hosts Malaysia, ranked 28, and world No 12 team Thailand in the eight-day, seven-team tournament that will provide three spots in the Games later this year.
Estimating that eligibility rules would leave her without roughly 60 per cent of her first-choice team, Maben said she was “realistic” over Hong Kong’s qualification chances.
Equally, she recognised that reaching the Games could make a “huge difference” to the sport in the city, given her team would need to win only one match in Japan to secure the semi-final berth that would earn them Tier B funding from Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).

“We have a skeletal pool and in the next four years that has to improve,” Maben said. “To compete at the top level of the Asian Games, we need a four-year plan to give the local players more exposure.
“We still have a chance to qualify this time, we have to be realistic ... but I’m hoping.”
Almost immediately after the Games qualifiers, a full Hong Kong complement will compete in the ACC Premier Cup, also in Malaysia, which provides a gateway to the Asian Cup later this year.
“It’s a challenging workload but our only ambition is to pick up that cup,” Maben said.
Against Malaysia, captain and opener Natasha Miles contributed a composed 40, before No 3 Yasmin Daswani, with 34 from 30 balls, quickened the rate.
Some late hitting from Kary Chan Ka-ying, who would claim two wickets with the ball, and the excellent Maryam Bibi lifted the hosts to 131 for four from their 20 overs. Malaysia recovered from 18 for four to post 105 for five.

“We’ve bumped up our batting by 30 to 40 per cent but I’m not satisfied,” Maben said. “When we face higher-ranked teams we’ll need to do far better.”
A former India all-rounder, Maben identified fitness and fielding as areas that urgently needed addressing after she took charge.
Against Malaysia, who began the day with victory over China, Bibi claimed a pair of brilliant catches, while there were also fine grabs from Marina Lamplough and Iqra Sahar.
“We’re only 40 per cent there, because we want to compete with the elite, but the difference from where we were is stark,” said Maben, who credited strength and conditioning coach Tanuja Lele with transforming her players.
“It’s all about broadening their vision,” Maben said. “Before, they couldn’t see a catch could be taken, now they can see it and they can reach those balls.
“People who jogged are now sprinting. I was awestruck by some of the catching, but we still have lots of mental work to do. We could have nailed Malaysia.”
Maben acknowledged that coaching an associate nation “has its challenges”, in terms of access to players and facilities. “I knew that so I’m able to ride with it,” said Maben, whose team face China on Friday.
The coach had never been to Hong Kong before accepting the job. “I love the city,” Maben said. “You can say I’m on top of the world.”


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Sport

Cricket

City team beat Malaysia but bigger tests to come with Asian Games qualification on the line this month at seven-team tournament


City team beat Malaysia but bigger tests to come with Asian Games qualification on the line this month at seven-team tournament.


Women's cricket

Hong Kong’s plan to grow ‘skeletal’ women’s cricket talent pool and challenge Asian elite

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City team beat Malaysia but bigger tests to come with Asian Games qualification on the line this month at seven-team tournament

City team beat Malaysia but bigger tests to come with Asian Games qualification on the line this month at seven-team tournament