All you need to know about Hong Kong T20 Blitz 2017 - Teams, Squads, Fixtures

The second edition of the Hong Kong T20 Blitz promises to be a grander event than the inaugural edition. Hong Kong is one of most steady associate nations in the world of cricket. Needless to cite, they have been promoting the sport in every possible manner. The Super Sixes tournament was a big hit among the fans across the globe.

Last year, when they rolled out the T20 Blitz, the fans were treated to a whole new experience. Some veteran international players like Ryan Campbell and Michael Clarke joined the league which attracted huge audiences. The Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament is now moving into the 2017 edition with a promise to bring in more fans to cricket in the country.

The inaugural edition was a four-team affair and the 2017 edition of the Hong Kong T20 Blitz will see five teams participating. Kowloon Cantons and Woodworm Island Warriors were joint winners of the inaugural Hong Kong T20 Blitz after rain washed out the final day of the tournament. The other three participating teams this year are Galaxy Gladiators Lantau, City Kai Tak, and Hung Hom JD Jaguar. The tournament will be played from March 8 to March 12. Hung Hom JD Jaguars will lock horns with Galaxy Gladiators Lantau in the opening encounter of the season.

The venue for all the matches this year would be Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground (Mission Road Ground) in Mong Kok. Here is all that you need to know about the tournament this year:

Also read- Yusuf Pathan set to become the first Indian player to play a foreign T20 league

Teams

Kowloon Cantons

Kowloon Cantons had a brilliant opening season where they managed to win a game and finished as the joint winners. The franchise is based in the city of Kowloon. They have bolstered their lineup by signing some of the international T20 veterans. Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Indian attacking batsman Yusuf Pathan are the two big names that are set to light up the tournament.

Along with these two heavyweights, they have the services of Scotland batting mainstay Calum MacLeod, English T20 specialist bowler Tymal Mills and Pakistan’s Babar Hayat. They were captained by Scott McKechnie in the previous edition of the tournament. This year, Babar Hayat is likely to take over the duties from McKechnie.

Squad: Babar Hayat, Tanveer Ahmed, Shahid Wasif, Waqas Khan, Ahsan Ali Abassi, Ehsan Nawaz, Mudassar Hussain, Giacomo Lamplough, Sunny Bhimsaria, Angus Robson, Yusuf Pathan, Shahid Afridi, Tymal Mills, Calum MacLeod.

City Kai Tak 

The City Kai Tak is the new team added to the tournament roster. The franchise is based on the city of Kai Tak in Hong Kong. They will be under the leadership of Aizaz Khan in the tournament this year. They have roped in the services of veteran Indian coach Robin Singh. Robin Singh has previously been associated with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League as the head coach.

Among the overseas attractions, the new franchise have roped in Scotland’s attacking batsman Kyle Coetzer. They have drafted in former Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan in their lineup as well. West Indies T20 specialist Nicholas Pooran is another key addition to the squad. With a balanced set of players, they look like a settled unit for their debut season.

Squad: Aizaz Khan, Gareth Harte, Nadeem Ahmed, Ryan Buckley, Waqas Barkat, Raag Kapur, Akbar Khan, Niaz Ali, Ankur Vashishta, Sheryar Saeed, Siegfried Wai, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Coetzer.

Hung Hom JD Jaguars

The Hung Hom JD Jaguars have appointed local player Kinchit Shah as their skipper for the T20 league. They have not left any stone unturned in a bid to attract international faces. They have the services of World Cup winning captain Darren Sammy in their ranks. Kinchit Shah will certainly bank on the experience of Sammy when it comes to captaincy advice. UAE’s veteran pace bowler Mohammad Naveed is likely to be the bowling spearhead for them this season.

Former South African cricket Johan Botha, who is now aspiring to play for Australia, will also ply his trade for this franchise. James Franklin, who has been a regular face in T20 leagues across the globe, will make his presence felt in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz as well. The franchise is based on the city of Hung Hom.

Squad: Nizakat Khan, Nenad Shah, Kinchit Shah, Chris Carter, Imran Arif, Simandeep, Jangzeb, Ashley Caddy, Skhawat Ali, Damien Yee, Sharma Vishal, Mohammad Naveed, James Franklin, Darren Sammy, Johan Botha.

Galaxy Gladiators Lantau

Galaxy Gladiators Lantau is based on the city of Lantau. They have named Scott McKechnie as their head coach for the season. Interestingly, McKechnie was a part of the league last year as the captain of the eventual champions Kowloon Cantons. They are yet to finalize a name for their skipper. Former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara looks like the forerunner for the post.

Sangakkara is currently playing in the PSL and will head to Hong Kong soon after the conclusion of the tournament. Out of favor New Zealand hard hitting batsman, Jesse Ryder has been roped in by the franchise. They will hope for a vintage Ryder show to put things aligned for them this season.

Squad: Anshuman Rath, Mo Khan, Mohammad Awais, Haseeb Amjad, Daniyal Bukhari, Courtney Kruger, Karandeep Singh, Ishaq, Arshad Haroon Mohammad, Jason Liu, Sourav Kumar, Kumar Sangakkara, Jesse Ryder.

Hong Kong Island United

The Hong Kong Island United are based on the Hong Kong Island region. They are the franchise that is renamed. The franchise that was based on the same region last year was the Woodworm Island Warriors. They had finished as the joint winners of the inaugural edition along with Kowloon Cantons.

This year, they have named Pakistani Test skipper Misbah Ul Haq as their skipper for this edition of the league. They also have the skipper of the national side, Tanwir Afzal, in their lineup. Ryan Campbell, who played for the Kowloon Cantons last year, will be seen donning the coaching hat for the Hong Kong Island United this year.

Squad: Tanwir Afzal, Ehsan Khan, Jamie Atkinson, Dan Poscoe, Kyle Christie, Muhammad Moner Ahmed, Muhammad Balal, Devang Bulsara, Rory Caines, Ady Lee, Anas Khan, Misbah Ul Haq.

Fixtures – Schedule

All matches will be played at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.

Match 1, March 8 – Hung Hom JD Jaguars vs Galaxy Gladiators Lantau

Match 2, March 8 – City Kai Tak v Kowloon Cantons

Match 3, March 9 – Hung Hom JD Jaguars vs HKI United

Match 4, March 9 – City Kai Tak vs Galaxy Gladiators Lantau

Match 5, March 10 – HKI United vs Galaxy Gladiators Lantau

Match 6, March 10 – Kowloon Cantons vs Hung Hom JD Jaguars

Match 7, Match 11 – Kowloon Cantons vs HKI United

Match 8, March 11 – Hung Hom JD Jaguars vs City Kai Tak

Match 9, March 11 – Kowloon Canton vs Galaxy Gladiators Lantau

Match 10, March 12 – HKI United vs City Kai Tak

Final, March 12 – TBC v TBC