India Breaking News reported Hong Kong Ready for ACC Women Championship, that Hong Kong is gearing up for the ACC Women’s Emerging Team Asian Cup with a fully prepared squad and a newly appointed head coach, Andy Cottam. Cottam, an experienced former first-class cricketer, previously held a position as a high-performance manager at the National Sports Institute in Bangladesh.

ACC Womens 2023 prepared squad

Hong Kong’s cricket team for the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup will feature six returning players and will be led by Andy Cottam, taking on the coaching role for the first time. The team will compete in a group that includes A teams from India, Pakistan, and Thailand.

Cottam’s arrival marks a strategic shift, coinciding with Simon Willis becoming the permanent men’s head coach. Other organizational changes include Mark Farmer stepping in as the youth pathways coach and Chris Pickett being reappointed as the Head of Performance Analysis. Additionally, Javed Iqbal will assist Willis, and Ghulam Saklian will support Cottam and also coach the youth team.

Burji Shaof, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association, expressed confidence in the new appointments and emphasized the importance of expanding the coaching team’s resources during a period packed with preparations for the Asian Games, World Cup qualifiers, and Asian Cup qualifiers.

Hong Kong will host the Women’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Tin Kwong Road Leisure Ground, scheduled from June 10 to 21. This tournament, organized by the Asian Cricket Council, will feature A teams from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the final match set for June 21.

Hong Kong is fully prepared for the ACC Womens

Jay Shah, President of the ACC, reiterated the council’s commitment to gender equality in cricket and the overall development of the sport in Asia. Hong Kong, placed in Group A, will face India A, Pakistan A, and Thailand A on June 13, 15, and 17 respectively.

The Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) is proud to host the tournament, which will not only provide a competitive platform for the Hong Kong team but also allow visiting teams to experience the city’s hospitality. This event is expected to significantly promote women’s cricket in the region.

Financial support for the event will come from the Arts and Sports Development Fund of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, with additional assistance from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The event will be globally broadcast by the IPG Group.

Concerns have been raised by some associate member states regarding the revenue distribution model proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which allocates a significant portion of the revenue to major cricketing nations, potentially limiting the development opportunities for smaller countries. The Hong Kong Cricket Association has advocated for a more equitable distribution of funds and opportunities for associate members to host major tournaments.

This call for a fairer distribution is echoed by the successes seen in countries like Nepal and Thailand, which have shown significant progress in cricket when adequately funded. Tim Cutler, former CEO of the Hong Kong Cricket Association and current head of the Vanuatu Cricket Association, criticized the current funding model for exacerbating disparities in global cricket.

In the backdrop of these discussions, Hong Kong’s recent victory in the East Asian Cup final, with standout performances from Maryam Bibi and Chen Bixin, highlights the potential and talent in the region’s emerging cricket nations. This success provides a strong foundation as Hong Kong prepares to host the upcoming Women’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, reinforcing the city’s role as a central hub for cricket development in Asia.