Pakistan put their faith in rising stars
Pakistan have turned to youth as they attempt to win the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for a record fifth time.

The country’s selectors have chosen a team packed with rising talent for the 8-9 November showpiece at the Kowloon Cricket Club, for which tickets are selling fast.

Test star Faisal Iqbal – nephew of the great Javed Miandad – will lead the young squad.

“We view the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes as the perfect environment in which to blood our up-and-coming talent,” said Zakir Khan, director of cricket operations for the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“The tournament is, of course, fast and exciting and a lot of fun for everyone involved, but it is also extremely competitive and puts a lot of pressure on players to perform, so it is a good learning experience for our youngsters.

“Therefore, we have chosen a young squad of very promising players who we hope will go on to enjoy successful careers for Pakistan.”

The Pakistan selectors have high hopes for 20-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Talha, who already has best figures of 5-57 in his short first class career.

All-rounder Anwar Ali, also 20, has best figures of 6-54 in domestic cricket and has already represented Pakistan in the Twenty20 arena.

Explosive batsman Kamran Younis, 23, is averaging 46.33 in domestic Twenty20 cricket.

Leading the way will be Iqbal, a comparative veteran at age 26 with 21 tests and 18 one day internationals to his name.

The highlight of Iqbal’s test career so far is a masterful 139 versus India in Karachi in 2006.

“Of course, it is important for the team to contain some experience as well, which is why we have appointed Faisal Iqbal as captain,” added Khan.

“We know Pakistan have an outstanding record at the Sixes, so we trust this team to play well and give our many supporters both in Hong Kong and here at home plenty to cheer about.”

Pakistan have been drawn in a mouth-watering Bradman Group for this year’s tournament along with arch-rivals India, a powerful England squad and a big-hitting South African line-up.

The first day’s schedule will see Pakistan and India face off in the final group game of the day with a place in the Cup potentially at stake.

Pakistan won the inaugural Hong Kong Cricket Sixes in 1992 and triumphed again in 1997, 2001 and 2002. Only England can match their total of four wins in the event.

Sixes organisers have confirmed strong ticket sales for the 2008 tournament.

“We have already sold half of the 3,300 tickets available to the general public,” confirmed tournament director Mark Burns.

“The response from cricket fans has been excellent and we expect the event to again be a sell-out.

“In addition, all our corporate hospitality spaces have been sold, which is a fantastic result.”

Tickets for the 2008 Sixes – priced at $780 for adults and $450 for children – are on sale at the following locations:

• China Cricket International, Sheung Wan
(Tel: 2543 8500)
• Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Central
(Tel: 2810 6988)
• Hong Kong Cricket Club, Happy Valley (Tel: 3511 8668)
• Kowloon Cricket Club, Jordan (Tel: 2376 4141)

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Test ace Faisal Iqbal will lead a youthful Pakistan team at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on 8-9 November, 2008.
Mandatory credit: Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the ICC and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA’s proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

SQUADS
Pakistan: Faisal Iqbal (capt), Mohammad Salman, Waqas Ahmed, Raheel Majeed, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Talha, Kamran Younis.

England: Dimitri Mascarenhas (capt), Graham Napier, Darren Maddy, Tim Bresnan, Ed Joyce, Jonathan Trott, Graham Wagg.

South Africa: Thami Tsolekile (capt), Gulam Bodi, Loots Bosman, Alan Kruger, Jon-Jon Smuts, Roelof van der Merwe, Johann Louw.

About the Hong Kong Cricket Association
The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) is responsible for professionally administering cricket at all levels in Hong Kong. It aims to promote, expand and develop the sport, improve standards in all areas of the game and increase the number of participants from all sectors of the local community. It organises competitions throughout the year for all age groups, from primary school children to senior players. The HKCA’s wholly owned subsidiary, China Cricket International Limited, is responsible for the organisation and management of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 

Released on behalf of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes by Two Up Front. 

For further information, please contact: 
Niall Donnelly           
Two Up Front     
Tel:        +852 2854 2136     
Mob:      +852 6052 3330     
Fax:       +852 3579 5955     
Email:     niall@tuf.com.hk           

巴國的評委組合了一眾新星，於11月8至9日在九龍木球會獻技。  

著名米安達德(Javed Miandad)的侄子對抗賽明星伊克巴爾(Faisal Iqbal)，將擔任新力軍隊長。  

巴基斯坦板球理事會(PCB)板球行政總監Zakir Khan表示：「我們認為香港六人板球賽是最佳環境，讓一眾新星初次踏足六人賽。」  

「當然，快速及令人興奮的賽事為人人帶給無窮樂趣。可是對球手來說，這個具有競爭力的比賽給他們帶來壓力。所以是次比賽對一眾新星是個很好的學習機會。」  

「因此，我們派出一隊十分有前途的新星，希望為巴基斯坦在板球界爭光。」  

20歲的快投手塔拉阿(Mohammad Talah)在短暫的頂級板球賽事生涯中，已獲得5-57。巴基斯坦的評委對這個小伙子寄予厚望。  

同是20歲的全面球手阿里安(Anwar Ali)，在國內板球賽獲得6-54，亦曾代表巴基斯坦為Twenty 20出賽。  

爆發型擊球手尤尼斯(Kamran Younis)，今年23歲，在國內Twenty20板球的平均為46.33。  

隊長將由較老的26歲伊克巴爾擔任，曾參與21場對抗賽和18場單日
賽。  

伊克巴爾迄今為止，在對抗賽的職業生涯中，曾在2006年對印度Karachi的賽事打出高超的139得分跑。  

Khan續說：「當然，出賽的隊伍也需要有經驗的球員，所以我們委任伊克巴爾為隊長。」  

「巴基斯坦在過往的六人賽事中均有出色的表現，所以我們相信這隊新力軍會有出色的表現，讓香港和巴國許多的支持者為他們歡呼。」

今屆賽事巴基斯坦被編入Bradman組，與死敵印度、強勁的英格蘭和大熱南非隊勢必有一番龍爭虎鬥。

在第一天的賽事，巴基斯坦和印度將在最後一場比賽對壘，爭奪進入杯決賽的席位。  

巴基斯坦在香港六人板球賽於1992首辦時獲冠軍，其後分別於1997、2001及2002年勇奪冠軍。只有英格蘭曾在六人賽先後四次奪標。  

六人賽主辦單位確認2008賽事門票銷售理想。

 賽事總監貝馬可表示:「公開發售的3300張門票，我們已售逾半。」

 「板球球迷反應非常熱烈，我們預計今年門票將再次售罄。」  

「此外，所有給商業應酬的門票已經售罄，這代表賽事在商業社會中亦十分受歡迎。」

2008六人賽門票可在下列地點購買，成人票價為780元，小童為450元：  
• 上環，中國板球國際有限公司 (電話: 2543 8500)
• 中環，Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
(電話: 2810 6988)
• 跑馬地，香港木球會 (電話:3511 8668)
• 佐敦，九龍木球會 (電話:2376 4141)

香港六人板球賽於1992年創辦，獲國際板球會全面認可，是該項運動最具歷史、最完善及最受注目的六人比賽。  

曾在過去16年參賽的球手包括拿拉、鄧德家、史提夫及馬克華治、李察士、費度夫、基卓斯及艾林。  

賽事由香港板球會附屬公司中國板球國際負責籌辦及推廣。  

賽事所得款項會透過香港板球會投入本地板球發展。

回新聞頁

對抗賽王牌伊克巴爾(Faisal Iqbal)將於11月8至9日，香港六人賽帶領巴基斯坦的新力軍。
相片提供：香港六人賽

小組 
巴基斯坦：隊長伊克巴爾(Faisal Iqbal)、薩勒曼(Mohammad Salman)、阿密德(Waqas Ahmed) 、馬吉德(Raheel Majeed)、阿里安(Anwar Ali) 、塔拉阿(Mohammad Talah) 、尤尼斯(Kamran Younis) 

英格蘭：隊長馬士卡路也(Dimitri Mascarenhas) 、拿比亞(Graham Napier)、馬迪(Darren Maddy)、 布萊斯曼(Tim Bresnan) 、喬伊斯(Ed Joyce) 、特羅特(Jonathan Trott) 、瓦格(Graham Wagg) 

南非：隊長托蘇利奇(Thami Tsolekile)、保迪(Gulam Bodi)、
卡斯民(Loots Bosman)、克魯格(Alan Kruger)、史密德斯(Jon-Jon Smuts)、范德爾莫維(Roelof van der Merwe)、盧活(Johann Louw)      

對抗賽王牌伊克巴爾(Faisal Iqbal)將於11月8至9日，香港六人賽帶領巴基斯坦的新力軍。相片提供：香港六人賽    

有關香港板球總會
香港板球總會負責管理全港各級別的板球事務，目標為推廣、擴大及發展板球運動、改善運動各範疇及增加本港社區各階層的參加人數。會方全年為包括學界及年長級別籌辦比賽，其全資附屬機構中國板球國際有限公司負責籌辦及管理香港六人板球賽。  

由Two Up Front代表香港六人木球賽發佈。

如欲查詢賽事詳情，請聯絡：  
Niall Donnelly                       Vivian Pau
Two Up Front                      Two Up Front
電話 : +852 2854 2136      電話 : +852 2110 5890
手提 : +852 6052 3330      手提 : +852 6055 4122
傳真 :  +852 3579 5955     傳真 : +852 3579 5955
電郵 : niall@tuf.com.hk       電郵 : vivian@tuf.com.hk