Robin’s boys set to realise dream

But Robin has a few worries — for starters the amateur structure of the sport in Hong Kong. ‘‘Cricket is not a professional sport here. They play mostly on the weekends and that too on astro-turf. What they lack most is big match experience.’’

It is for this very reason, says Robin, the side performed below par in the ACC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur, last month, where they went in with almost ‘no match practice’. Pitted against the likes of Bahrain and Oman, the team folded up without a fight. But Robin doesn’t see that as a problem in Sri Lanka. ‘‘The Bahrain team was basically made up of Pakistani first-class players. Also, we did not have much time to prepare. Moreover, I spent just 10 days with the team before tournament. All this affects results,’’ he says.

Elaborating on his own role, Robin believes that it he has been a ‘pretty challenging job’. ‘‘They approached me after the U-19 World Cup. I thought about it for a while and took up the challenge. But I would say though that guiding the under-19s is a bigger challenge.’’

Robin is not sure about his future with the Hong Kong team. ‘‘It depends on what the HKCA wants from me. We will see at the end of the Asia Cup how things go.’’

Robin will surely be under the spotlight five days from now when Hong Kong take on Bangladesh. But he believes that his team is ‘pretty decent’ and can upset the newest Test playing nation. ‘‘We have nothing to lose, it is they (Bangladesh) who will be under pressure. I think we can pull it off.’’

ROBIN’S PICK

The team is a mix of couple of Australians, some Pakistanis and a few Indians. Here is the coach’s pick of players to watch out for at the Asia Cup.

Rahul Sharma: The captain is a former Delhi Ranji Trophy player. He was among runs in the 2000 and 2002 ACC Trophy.

Najeeb Amar: A left-arm-spinner. When he gets going he could be pretty handy.

Roy Lamsam: Only player of Chinese origin — a very decent player.

The Squad
Rahul Sharma (captain), Tim Smart, Manoj Cheruparambil, Ilyas Gull, Tabarak Dar, Alex French, Najeeb Amar, Roy Lamsam, Afzaal Haider, Nadem Ahmed, Khalid Khan, Nasir Hameed, Sher Lama, Graeme Jardine.