Hong Kong Olympic Committee confirms Men's and Women's cricket teams to play in Asian Games

The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong (SF&OC) has confirmed that it will include both men's and women's cricket teams as part of the HKSAR National team to contest the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China during 12-27 November 2010. It will be first time that cricket has featured in the Asian Games.

Hopeful of a positive decision by the SF&OC, the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) has been making preparations for the Asian Games since late 2009, with talent searches and training camps being conducted to identify potential players from which the final Games teams will be selected. Players with HKSAR passports will be eligible to represent Hong Kong at the Asian Games.

Responding to the Hong Kong National Coach, Charlie Burke said "I'm really pleased for Hong Kong Cricket, its players and major stakeholders to get an opportunity to showcase our talent in such a big event. To be involved in something as big as the Asian Games is very exciting and I can't wait until November comes around."

He added, "In the meantime we have alot of hard work to ensure we are competitive and to achieve what we think we can. From now on it is hard work and commitment, but the reward is priceless."

"To be involved in something as big as the Asian Games is very exciting and I can't wait until November comes around."Charlie Burke, Hong Kong Head Coach

The Asian Games cricket competition will be played in the Twenty20 format with teams from test playing nations Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh expected to join Hong Kong and a number of other Associate level countries in the tournament.

Matches will be played at the new purpose built cricket stadium located at the Guangdong University of Technology in the Higher Mega Center, which has a seating capacity of 12,000. Officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Matthew Kennedy and Tim Anderson recently visited Guangzhou to inspect the new stadium and they were impressed with the high quality of the venue and facilities.