Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke is set to play cricket again by featuring in the upcoming Hong Kong T20 league.
The 35 year old will play first T20 cricket since his last T20 match almost four years ago in the IPL. “While I have never been to Hong Kong before, I have heard so much about what a great place it is for sport,” he said in a statement.
“I can’t wait to meet my team-mates and experience the city, while also hopefully contributing to the game of cricket in Hong Kong which I know has been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years,” Clarke added.
The organizers of the two-day tournament are very happy to have a player like Michael Clarke in their tournament. “To summarize Michael’s credentials is impossible, he is simply one of the best cricketers of this generation, if not ever,” said Hong Kong Cricket Association chief Tim Cutler.
“Not only does this vindicate the effort in putting the tournament together, it also shows the growth of cricket in East Asia. With over 80,000 participants in China there is immense potential in East Asia. With rugby and soccer both making strategic plays into the nascent Chinese sporting market, we look forward to working with the ICC and Asian Cricket Council in growing cricket throughout the region.”
“A key area for our national squads, both men and women, is to grow strong leadership, and to have someone such as Michael Clarke to spend some time mentoring and providing input in this key area is very exciting,” Charlie Burke, HKCA director of cricket said. “It’s not every day you get to pick the brains of a former Test and World Cup winning captain that has had a very successful time at the helm.
“It says a lot about Michael that he wants to help cricket grow in an emerging region, and we thank him for reaching out to us.”