Big test for HK Women: Japan to tour

The HKCA is pleased to announce that a three match series between the Hong Kong Women's Cricket Team and the Japanese Women's Cricket Team will be played in Hong Kong in early October 2008. The games will be played at different venues across Hong Kong that will allow the Hong Kong public and cricket community to view international women's cricket for the first time in Hong Kong.

The Japanese team is coached by former NZ international Katrina Keenan and will be captained by Ema Kuribayashi. The team will tour Hong Kong from 8-13 October and their schedule will include three 50 over games against their Hong Kong counterparts. The first game will be played on October 9th at HKCC, the second on October 10th at KCC and the final game on October 12th at Mission Road. Entry is free and members of the public are very welcome.

The Japanese team has previously played a qualifying international series against Papua New Guinea and is currently in Shanghai.

Both teams are targeting next year's Asian Games qualifying series and are relishing the opportunity to play against each other. Earlier in the year the Hong Kong Women's team traveled to Bangladesh and while they were competitive, they are looking for improved performances against Japan.

"This is an exciting opportunity to showcase international women's cricket in Hong Kong," Nisar Khusro, the International Chairman, said. "We have some very young players with good cricketing skills and I believe that the Hong Kong public will enjoy the chance to view top level women's cricket."

Japanese Squad: Ema Kuribayashi. Shizuka Miyaji , Mariko Yamamoto, Yuko Sasaki , Ayako Miki, Ayako Nakayama , Kurumi Ohta Atsuko Suda, Yumiko Asari, Manami Takada, Erina Kaneko, Mai Kujime, Miki Nakayama, Erika Ida, Shizuka Kubota

The Hong Kong team will be named on Friday September 26th.

This press release is issued by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Charles Lau, General Manager, at 25048101 or email hkca@hkabc.net.