Mix of experience and youth vital for Hong Kong's development beyond WorldT20

One of the biggest obstacles any of the emerging nations face as they begin to climb the ladder of international cricket is preparing a team capable of performing on the biggest stage but that also serves to develop its young cricketers in preparation for next time around.

You will regularly see players the wrong side of 30 taking the field, their careers peaking in line with their country’s cricketing development.

And this year, Hong Kong provided the oldest player of the tournament in 44-year-old Ryan Campbell as well as the youngest – 17-year-old Waqas Khan.

Campbell represented Australia twice in ODIs in 2002, playing in sides that contained Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath among others.

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His place in this year’s squad has been seen by some to have been blocking the pathway for younger Hong Kong players who will be around for tournaments to come but the Perth native is positive that his presence can be just that for his teammates and their future development.

“I have been the batting coach of this squad for the last four years, and have helped take young lads to where they are now. But in saying that, the coaching staff felt, that our batting lacked an experienced player who could bring some calmness and experience to the situation,” Campbell told Sport360.com.

“We have a number of teenagers on this tour that we have high hopes for, and we have many more back in Hong Kong that we will continue to develop, but we are also very mindful not to ‘throw them to the wolves’ on the world stage, something that may impede their development.”

Campbell became the oldest player to make his international debut at a World T20I this week and it is clear that he is remarkably proud of representing Hong Kong.

Many of the smaller nations rely on nationalized expats, but for Campbell his association with the country is far reaching.

“I moved to Hong Kong as the Head Cricket Coach of the Kowloon Cricket Club, as this wonderful opportunity was too good to turn down. Once I was signed by Kowloon, the Hong Kong national coach immediately signed me as the batting coach for the Hong Kong national team,” said Campbell who was part of the backroom staff as Hong Kong went to their first World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014 and weer granted ODI status.

“As part of my role at Kowloon, I was playing but at no point did I move thinking that I might play national cricket for Hong Kong. My total focus was helping develop young cricketers in the awesome country of Hong Kong.

“Another reason I said yes to the opportunity in Hong Kong was that I had discovered that I had family heritage, with my great grandfather born in Kowloon, and my grandmother Chinese, both of whom I never met.”

While it is clear Campbell has already invested great time and energy into developing the game in Hong Kong, the onus is on him more than ever to assist the likes of Waqas in their progression.

For the schoolboy, who turned 17 on Thursday and started out playing cricket in his uncle’s garden, Campbell and the senior players are learning tools.

“I definitely rely on the senior players for advice. It is important,” Waqas told Sport360. “It helps us to increase our knowledge and skills and to strengthen our mental abilities in cricket.

“In my team, it is Babar Hayat – when he scored 122 against Oman, I felt so proud to be playing with him. Because of his big shots and aggressiveness, he’s great to watch and great to play with. He’s a really good teammate, he encourages the young players a lot, which is so helpful; it really gives you confidence.”

And while the pair are wildly contrasting in their backgrounds and personalities, their ambition is shared.

“Being in the 15 of the national team here at the WT20 is a really proud moment for me,” said Waqas.

“Even when you’re not picked for the playing 11 – we are getting such amazing experience, and I am really proud to be representing Hong Kong.”

Campbell added: “I played in the greatest era of Australian cricket. Just to play state cricket in the 1990s and early 2000s with the amazing players of that time was an honour. To then be picked for the national team was a dream come true.

“Playing for a Full Member is completely different to playing for an Associate Member, so my debut for Hong Kong has been amazing for a totally different set of reasons.

“To represent Hong Kong, to which I have links through my heritage, as well as my fiancée and son being born there, means I am very much a part of the Hong Kong culture – and I plan to be for many years to come.”