Hong Kong China left-arm wrist-spinner Kary Chan — officially listed as Ka Ying Chan on the team sheet — says competing against India and Pakistan at the DP World Women's Asia Cup 2026 feels almost unreal, even after a brief pre-tournament hospital stay for diarrhoea that threatened to derail her preparations. One of only seven bowlers in history to cross 150 Women's T20I wickets, Kary spoke candidly ahead of Hong Kong China's opening match against Thailand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 28 August 2026.

A Dream Made Real

'Oh my god, we just think it's very unreal because we were always just watching, like, maybe the India or Pakistan team play on TV, and we didn't really have a chance to face them,' Kary said. Hong Kong China qualified for the tournament through the 2026 Women's Premier Cup, earning their first Women's Asia Cup berth since 2012 — and their first shot at the game's heavyweights on this stage in over a decade. The squad is scheduled to face seven-time tournament winners India on 3 September 2026.

Learning From the Legends She Now Faces

For Kary, the prospect of bowling to players she studied on screen carries a layered emotional charge. 'I don't know how to express this feeling because I learned my cricket by seeing those players on screen, and now I'm going to play against them,' she said. 'It's a very nervous feeling, to be honest, but the main thing is that I am really excited.' A preparatory camp in Sri Lanka gave the squad exposure to varied bowling styles — including left-arm options they had rarely encountered — on surfaces comparable to what they expect in Dubai, sharpening their readiness for unfamiliar opponents.

The Maben Effect: Professionalism as a Game-Changer

Behind Hong Kong China's rise is a quiet revolution in standards, driven by head coach Mamatha Maben, a former India captain with extensive international playing and coaching experience. 'From the time she came to coach us, I feel like we have had to go to the next level and adopt a new mindset, because her mindset is mainly about high quality, professionalism, and how to be the best of the best,' Kary said. Maben reportedly transformed not just skill sets but daily routines, pre-game preparation habits, and mental frameworks across the squad. Alongside Maben, strength and conditioning coach Tanuja Lele — who has spent considerable time in the Indian cricket ecosystem — has overhauled Kary's fitness programme over the past three months, replacing a generic cross-sport training model with cricket-specific conditioning.

Overcoming Infrastructure Constraints at Home

Hong Kong China's journey to the Asia Cup has not been without structural hardship. The squad has access to only one main ground and trains for roughly three hours, three times a week — sharing that time with both boys and girls squads. Kary acknowledged the constraints but rejected the option of complaint. 'We can't change the environment around us... If we can't control those things, we just accept it, adapt to the situation, and do what we can,' she said. She added that the team hopes their Asia Cup qualification will prompt the government to allocate more turf wicket time and larger training venues going forward.

The Smriti Mandhana Bet — and What It Reveals

Kary's competitive spirit is best illustrated by a light-hearted wager with a teammate: if she dismisses India vice-captain and star opener Smriti Mandhana during their 3 September clash, she wins a bubble tea. With Jemimah Rodrigues ruled out of the tournament due to a high-grade hamstring injury, Kary also hopes to swap jerseys with Mandhana — a left-handed batting icon she has long admired. 'I'm a big fan of Smriti because I'm a left-hander as well, and she's a legend among left-handers worldwide,' Kary said. The ambition, she insists, goes beyond the novelty: it reflects a hunger to measure herself against the very best. Kary also hopes Hong Kong China's appearance at the tournament inspires young cricketers back home, noting that cricket remains a niche sport in the city and that qualifying for the Asia Cup sends a powerful message to the next generation.

Hong Kong China's opening fixture — Thailand vs Hong Kong — is scheduled for 28 August 2026 at 8 PM IST, live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Telugu, Kannada), and Sony LIV.