Odisha boy Anshy named Vice-captain of Hong Kong cricket team

Meet Anshuman Rath (Anshy) from Bhubaneswar, who has been named the Vice-captain of Hong Kong cricket team for the World Cup qualifying fixtures. Yet another individual having roots in Odisha has made the coastal state of India proud.

Anshuman Rath is a wicketkeeper/batsman, who can also bowl slow left-arm orthodox. Anshy’s parents had shifted to the foreign country in the late 1990s to try their luck in business. They originally belong to Satya Nagar in Bhubaneswar.

“I got hooked to the game when I watched India reach the final of the ICC World Cup in 2003. I was only six. My father and I started playing cricket at home. After breaking enough furniture, he decided to enrol me at the Hong Kong Cricket Club for coaching,” Anshuman said.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, will play Nepal in October as part of the ICC World Cup Qualifier due March next year. This will decide the qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

The wicketkeeper-batsman and left-arm orthodox spinner adorned the Hong Kong jersey in 2014. In less than three years, he has been named the vice captain of the team. The 20-year-old is hopeful to see his team through to the big arena.

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