Do or die for Hong Kong against PNG in promotion battle

Hong Kong take on Papua New Guinea in their final group game at the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament at the Hong Kong Cricket Club today, and it is a match that HK coach Charlie Burke describes as a 'semi-final'.

However, this is more like a final for skipper Najeeb Amar and his men as Hong Kong strive for the win which will secure a berth in the Division Two tournament in Dubai in April.

With PNG having secured their place in tomorrow's final, and clinched one of two qualifying berths, it is a battle between the remaining five teams for the second spot.

Winning the tournament is secondary. Booking a ticket to Dubai comes first.

'We have the best net run rate of the five teams and all we need is to win to ensure we qualify for Division Two. This is a semi-final for us,' Burke said. 'It is definitely in our hands.' The situation looked bleak after losses to the United States and Oman in the opening two games at Kowloon Cricket Club, but Hong Kong have lived a charmed life with other results going their way.

The home team will be hoping they can repeat their victory over PNG in a pre-tournament practice game.

'We have played them a lot and know a lot about their team. That win in the practice match will also be a boost for us,' Najeeb said. Division Two comprises Bermuda, Uganda, Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, and now PNG.

The top four from April's competition in Dubai will be promoted to the ICC World Cup qualifiers in 2013 in Scotland where they will rub shoulders with the six Division One countries - Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and Afghanistan. Burke is unlikely to make changes to the team who have come back from the dead. In other games, Denmark take on Oman at the Kowloon Cricket Club, while the US come up against Italy at Mission Road. If Hong Kong lose, any of these teams could qualify.