Cricket ACT chief executive Cameron French has announced that ACT XI will host Hong Kong in a Prime Minister’s XI curtain-raiser at Manuka Oval on February 2.
Hong Kong recently finished 3rd in ICC World Cricket League Championship and qualified for ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Mar 2018 in Zimbabwe, and the tour of Australia will be part of a preparatory schedule for the national squad ahead of the qualifiers. The team will be back again in Hong Kong following the ACT XI match to take part in the country’s own HK T20 Blitz.
Cricket Hong Kong will be expected to announce few more matches in the lead-up to the ACT XI match. Any announcements as such will be notified accordingly.
French says Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland is a huge supporter of the curtain-raiser concept because it allows more Canberra players to shine against international opposition.
“[Cricket Australia] are really conscious of the importance locally of having local players getting an opportunity to play on the main stage,” French said.
“Once again they’ve been great in accommodating a curtain-raiser before the game. Hopefully we’ll have all clubs represented in a curtain-raiser for the main game.”
