Hong Kong match-winner Murtaza relishing home advantage in Cricket World Cup bid
Hong Kong in healthy position after three wins and one defeat from five matches in opening Challenge League leg in Uganda
Yasim Murtaza said critical victories over Tanzania and Singapore had left Hong Kong nicely poised to exploit home advantage when the Challenge League rolls into the city early next year.
The all-rounder delivered pivotal performances with bat and ball, as Hong Kong wrapped up the first leg of the six-team competition with successive wins.
Their campaign had been in the balance after a heavy loss to Italy, which prompted clear-the-air talks at the team hotel, was sandwiched by a win over Bahrain and rain-ruined meeting with the hosts.
The Challenge League, which offers a gateway to both one-day international status and 2027 World Cup qualification, is contested over three years. Fresh from overseeing the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes’ uplifting return, the local association revealed this week that they had captured hosting rights for the 2025 Challenge League leg.
The matches, from February 6 to 16, will be staged at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground and Kowloon Cricket Club.
“We are happy with where we are [after Uganda] and already excited about the second leg,” Murtaza said. “We have a strong bunch of players, we helped each other throughout this tournament and ended up in a good position. We will stick together and create plans for the matches in Hong Kong.
