Hong Kong Super Sixes will kick off from today (Saturday) with defending champion Pakistan taking on Netherlands, Sri Lanka and India on the first day of the two-day event.
Eight teams from different countries will battle it out to determine who will become the 2012 champions of the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
Teams from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Australia have all made the trip to this vibrant sport-loving city, for what promises to be a fun packed and exhilarating weekend of Sixes Cricket.
The Group A comprises host Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa and England while Pakistan, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and India have been placed in Group B.
In the first match of the tournament, Pakistan will take on Netherlands at 9:15am before clashing with its arch-rivals India. The third and last match of the day will be between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Earlier prior to departure for Hong Kong, the Pakistan skipper Kamran Akmal reiterated to defend title successfully and presents nation Eid gift. The semi-finals and final will be played tomorrow (Sunday).
On arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, Pakistan team captain Kamran Akmal shared his excitement at the upcoming competition saying: “It is my first time in Hong Kong and I am really excited about the Super Sixes. Some of the guys have played here before for several years and they keep telling me what a great tournament this is.”
“As defending champions, I hope my team can continue good run and will play good cricket and win once again. We have some young players like Tanveer Ahmed and Junaid Khan and they will be keen to impress with their performances to everyone on their first visit here. It is only five overs so the games are not easy and everyone can win it. We must be professional and play our best at all times,” he added.
England, last year’s Cup runners-s up, also arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday. England Captain Joshua Cobb, said: “It is good to be back in Hong Kong. I didn't play much last year but I am excited to be captaining the side this year and hopefully we can go one better and win the tournament.”
“We have a young and hungry team this year. They all have some first class experience and will be looking to play well, enjoy themselves and hopefully win. Twenty 20 will certainly help us in this format but there are a lot of good players here, which is good for the tournament and good experience for our players to play against.”
Honk Kong Sixes tournament started in 1992 held at the Kowloon Cricket Club and fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. The tournament is made for television, with rules and a venue that encourage aggressive batting and high scoring. Because every player (except the wicket-keeper) is required to bowl one over, the format suits all-rounders.
Hong Kong Sixes is a weekend of VIP entertainment in the exclusive and intimate surroundings of the Kowloon Cricket Club. Eight teams are participating in this tournament Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, Netherland, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka and England, Hong Kong sixes scheduled to start Saturday (today) and will finish on 28th October, Now a days every one love this type of aggressive cricket specially Hong Kong Sixes in which each member of the fielding side bowls one over, with the exception of the wicket keeper.
Game are played between two teams of six players and each game consists of a maximum of five six ball over’s bowled by each side (eight ball over’s in the final match).Wide and no balls count as two runs.
A tournament points system awards two points for each match won. Batsmen retire not out on reaching 31 runs. The idea being to reach 36 runs by hitting 6 sixes and a retired batsman can return to the crease after lower order batsman either retire or are out. If five wickets fall before 5 overs are completed, the last remaining batsman acting as a runner. He always takes strike. The inning is complete when the six wickets falls.
Squads
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Awais Zia, Tanvir Ahmad, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Manager: Sharif Ahmad
South Africa: Colin Ingram, Dillon du Preez, Rory Kleinveldt, Lyall Meyer, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Khayelihle Zondo, Manager: Vincent Barnes
Australia: Timothy Armstrong, Travis Birt, Cameron Borgas, Meyrick Buchanan, Theo Doropoulos, Bradley Hodge, Steven Paulsen. Manager: Bernard Moran
England: Josh Cobb, Adam Ball, Keith Barker, Ben Brown, Chris Nash, Tom Smith, Ross Whiteley. Manager: Andrew Hurry
Netherland: Wesley Barresi, Peter Borren, Mudassar Bukhari, Peter Drinnen, Alexei Kervezee, Stephan Myburgh, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart. Manager: Ed van Nierop
Sri Lanka: Chamara Kapugedara, Chamith Kulasekara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Kusal Matharage Don, Jehan Mubarak, Sachith Pathirana, Ramith Rambukwella. Manager: Channa Weerakkody
India: Praveen Kumar, Paul Valthaty, Aajit Chandela, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Chitnis, Siddarth Trivedi, Iishan Malhotra. General manager:Anil Chaudhary
Hong Kong: Timothy Armstrong, Travis Birt, Cameron Borgas, Meyrick Buchanan, Theo Doropoulos, Bradley Hodge, Steven Paulsen. Manager: Bernard Moran.


HONG KONG SIXES SCHEDULE
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Time     Pool     Match
8:30am-9:15am     A     Hong Kong v Australia
9:15am-10am    B     Netherlands v India
10am-10:45am     A     Hong Kong v South Africa
10:45am-11:30am     B     Netherlands v Sri Lanka
11:30am-12:15pm     A     England v Australia
12:15pm-1pm    B     Pakistan v Netherlands
1pm-1:45pm     A     South Africa v Australia
1:45pm-2:30pm     B     Sri Lanka v India
2:30-3:15pm     A     Hong Kong v England
3:15pm-4pm     B     Pakistan v India
4pm-4:45pm     A     England v South Africa
4:45-5:30pm     B     Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Sunday 28th October
0915-1000    Cup    A2 v. B2
1000-1045     Cup     A1 v. B1
1045-1130     Plate     Semi-final 2
1130-1215     Cup    A1 v. B2
1215-1300     Cup    A2 v. B1
1345-1430     Cup    A1 v. A2
1430-1515    Cup    B1 v. B2
1515-1600     Plate    Final
1600-1645     Cup    Final