Hollioake to coach Hong Kong for ACC Trophy

Adam Hollioake has been appointed National Team Coach to the Hong Kong side for the forthcoming Asian Cricket Council Cup tournament to be held in Sharjah next month.

England's former one-day captain, who took his county side Surrey victory in the English county championship this year for the second consecutive season was offered the job after a successful spell of coaching in the former British colony last year.

One of the favourite sides to win the ACC Trophy, Hong Kong has a mixed nationality team drawn mainly from the British and Pakistan expatriate communities as well as a thriving home-grown scene that produced their most famous player Dermot Reeve.

Hollioake, spending two months in Hong Kong before wintering at his home in Perth, Australia, will be assisted during the preparations by New Zealand chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee who agreed to spend two days with the side as part of a coaching and social visit.

Until the handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong played host to an international sixes tournament which was won on three occasions by an England side featuring Hollioake and his brother Ben.

"Hong Kong is a place I have always liked," said Hollioake "I lived there when I was aged from 10-12 and love the place. It is set up well for cricket.

"And Sharjah is one of the grounds I most enjoy playing at, having been there with England and Surrey a few times.

"I am not really aware of how the team plays as I only know a few of the players. I will just be telling them to play to win."

The ACC Trophy takes place in Sharjah between November 15-24.