“I look forward to playing with the young and upcoming talent of Hong Kong”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Legendary Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the second big-name player to sign up for the Hong Kong T20 Blitz.
Sangakkara will represent the Galaxy Gladiators Lantau in the tournament, which will take place at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, otherwise known as Mission Road, between March 8 and 12.
“I am delighted to be associated with the Galaxy Gladiators Lantau and I look forward to playing with the young and upcoming talent of Hong Kong as well as catching up with all the amazing cricket fans,” Sangakkara said.
Team owners Ankit Khandelwal and Gaurav Dhariwal added: “It’s an honour to have such an experienced sports star on board. It will be amazing for the youngsters and players from other teams to have such a great legend playing amidst the teams.”
Cricket Hong Kong CEO Tim Cutler was over the moon that a player of Sangakkara’s calibre has signed up for the HK T20 Blitz.
“We are absolutely delighted to have a true icon of the game in Kumar Sangakkara come to play in the Blitz,” he said. “One of the great batsman-keepers to grace the sport’s history. The fact he is still playing in the elite T20 leagues around the world only proves his versatility to have performed on the world stage over 17 years.
“I am very excited for the Hong Kong cricket-loving public who will get to watch one of the true gentlemen of the sport ply his wares, live and up close at Tin Kwong Road.”
Sangakkara represented Sri Lanka in 134 Test matches and scored 12400 runs, which includes 38 centuries and 52 fifties, at an average of 57.40. He also featured in 404 ODIs and amassed 14234 runs, which included 25 hundreds and 93 half-centuries, at an average of 41.98.
In regards to his Twenty20 International career, the 39-year-old featured in 59 matches and accumulated 1382 runs, which included eight fifties, at an average of 31.40 and a strike rate of 119.55.
On Tuesday, the Kowloon Cantons unveiled former Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi as their marquee signing for the event.