The making of India vs Hong Kong couldn’t be more different from India vs Pakistan. Discussions about the training ground, press conferences, and matches are of little importance in terms of ticket sales and anticipation. It is almost as if everyone is looking forward to next Sunday when India and Pakistan are likely to face the second of three possible meetings in this Asia Cup.
But India will remember very well how close Hong Kong came to an incredible turnaround the last time these sides met. The prospect of playing India is rare and it is an opportunity Hong Kong are eager to embrace, even if it means some players are sacrificing time with their newborns at home. How a group of semi-professional players handles their nerves can determine how far they go in the competition.
Hong Kong’s cricket infrastructure is probably smaller than a Tier-II city in India
The cricket infrastructure of Hong Kong is probably smaller than that of a Tier-II city in India. They have a pool of 20 players to choose from at the best of times. In comparison, India’s senior team has a pool of 40 who play together in different countries. And then 20 others are part of the ‘A’ Tour program, all training to be match-ready. The bridge across the Gulf of Hong Kong is monumental.
Hong Kong prefers to train at night. But everything pales in comparison to the opportunity before them on Wednesday.
