MEDIA RELEASE

PAKISTAN AND ENGLAND ANNOUNCE STAR-STUDDED LINE-UPS FOR 2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG CRICKET SIXES

HONG KONG, September 30: Defending champions Pakistan and last year's runners-up England have both confirmed strong line-ups for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

Moin Khan returns  with powerful Pakistan team © Cricinfo

Pakistan, who will be bidding for an unprecedented third successive Hong Kong Sixes crown, will be led by the combative Moin Khan for the second year in a row.

Also returning from last year's triumphant team will be Imran Nazir and Naved Latif, who scored a match-winning innings in the three-wicket Cup final defeat of England to capture the Man-of-the-Match award.

Completing the seven-man squad for the top seeds will be outstanding utility player Azhar Mahmood, flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, stylish left-hand opener Imran Farhat and Bilal Asad.

Pakistan have been drawn in Pool 1 in the ninth edition of the world's premier Sixes tournament that will be hosted by the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 1-2 and boasts a prize fund of US$260,000.

In the Pool phase they will face arch-rivals India, tournament hosts Hong Kong, and New Zealand, who will be appearing in the tournament for the first time since 1996.

Meanwhile, England have been drawn in Pool 2 where they can expect stern opposition from South Africa, Sri Lanka and tournament debutants Kenya.

The English challenge will be spearheaded by Matthew Maynard, making his fifth visit to the Sixes. Captain of the team last year, the 37-year-old will be aiming for this team to go one better than in 2002 by ending Pakistan's recent domination of the event – and laying his hands on the trophy this time.

Helping him in his quest will be four other players with Test match experience – Glamorgan teammate Robert Croft, rising star Kabir Ali who enjoyed a successful campaign with Worcestershire in the English County Championship, paceman Chris Silverwood of Yorkshire and Leicestershire's Darren Maddy.

Making up the English squad will be Lancashire's Glen Chapple and Scottish-born all-rounder Dougie Brown, both of whom have past Hong Kong Sixes experience.

Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are selling fast. 'Early bird' two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children under the age of 15. The early bird ticket price offer has been extended from September 30 to October 17. From October 18, the prices will increase to HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children.

Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicket-keeper, bowling one over. The eight competing teams are split into two groups of four and play each other on a round-robin basis on day one.

The top two teams in each pool progress to the Cup competition knockout stages, while the bottom two teams in each of the pools compete for the Plate.

Pakistan squad: Moin Khan (captain), Azhar Mahmood, Shahid Afridi, Naved Latif, Bilal Asad, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat.

England squad: Kabir Ali, Dougie Brown, Glen Chapple, Robert Croft, Darren Maddy, Matthew Maynard, Chris Silverwood.

The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 1-2. Early bird two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 years and younger, and are on sale through Cityline (www.cityline.com.hk) as well as at the following outlets:

• Hong Kong Cricket Club (137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley, 2574 6266);
• Kowloon Cricket Club (10 Cox's Road, Jordan, 2367 4141);
• Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Prince's Building, Central 2810 6988);
• Hong Kong Cricket Association (Room 1019 Sports House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, 2504 8102).

Provided by CCIL/Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.