The Hong Kong China Under-15 team arrived Kathmandu on November 19 for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-15 Elite Cup 2007. Sher Lama, a Nepali residing in Hong Kong, is leading the team as the coach.
Upendra Prasad Bhattarai, the vice-president of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), received the team at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The event is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 24.
“We have a good team since we have been training for three months now,” Lama said speaking Nepali. “I have taken the charge of the team from June and we have big hopes of doing well.”
Hong Kong failed to win single match in the last event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2006.
“I know the conditions of Nepal, I hope this will be useful,” Lama, who had played nationals in Nepal before leaving for Hong Kong, added. He also came to Nepal in 1998 ACC Trophy as a Hong Kong player.
Lama expressed happiness for his assignment in Nepal. “I am very happy, speaking Nepali with you here in Nepal, I feel good,” he said. “This is a lifetime achievement for me to return my home country as the coach of Hong Kong.”
While asked about Nepali team, he said: “Nepal is always good; I hope the final will be between Nepal and Hong Kong!”
Hong Kong is in Group A of the event along with Nepal, Oman, Malaysia, and Thailand. The Nepal vs. Hong Kong match is on November 30.
Hong Kong squad: Mark Chapman (captain), Miten Khatri (Vice Captain), Niaz Ali, Nizakat Khan, Sagar Chandra, Shivam Hemnani, Aizaz Khan, Sunny Bhimsaria, Shamal Khan, Tom Holden, Jayesh Dalani, Jason Lui, Simanndeep Singh, Kinchit Shah and Sher Lama (manager).
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