Habib eyes county coaching role

Aftab Habib consults captain Tabarak Dar during the Asia Cup in Karachi during June

Former England batsman and current Hong Kong coach Aftab Habib hopes to become the first British Asian to coach a county side.

Habib played two Tests against New Zealand in 1999 and, having completed a domestic career with spells at Leicestershire sandwiching one at Essex, was appointed as Hong Kong coach in October 2007 on a three-year contract.

The 36-year-old, who retired as a player in 2006, is aiming to guide Hong Kong to the 2011 World Cup but recognises he faces an almighty challenge.

“My contract here is for three years – I have two to go – but my main ambition is to be the first British Asian to coach a county team,” Habib admitted.

“You’re seeing black managers in football in England. There aren’t main British Asians or Asian coaches in cricket in England – that would be my goal and build my way up to coach a county team.”

Habib has helped Hong Kong to victory at the ACC Trophy Elite 2008 in August and believes that the six teams who will be taking part in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Four, which begins on October 4 in Dar Es Salaam, will be evenly matched as they attempt to gain the two final qualifying spots for Division Three.

From there the top two sides in Division Three will progress to the 12-team ICC World Cup qualifier, with the top four sides from there making it to the World Cup.

“We have a very good chance of getting in Division Three. It’s going to be a tough event,” said Habib, whose side next face Tanzania.

“It’s anybody’s game – it is about who plays best on the day. Everybody is pretty much equal in this tournament.”

Hong Kong, who is one of the favourites to gain promotion from the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Three, have just returned from a 10-day tour of Sri Lanka, where they played four practice matches as part of their preparations for Tanzania.

“It was good to play against some really strong teams, against academy and development players who are knocking on the door of first-class cricket,” said Habib.

“There is no point playing against weak opposition and winning comfortably.”

36-year-old Habib, who scored almost 9,000 first-class runs in his career, admitted that it is hard to prepare for a tournament when much of the opposition is an unknown quantity.

Hong Kong spinner Nadeem Ahmed helps reduce Pakistan to 161 for seven during the Asia Cup clash

“It’s always quite difficult. We know Afghanistan and I know things about the majority of guys who play for Italy,” said Habib.

“Against teams like Tanzania, who we know less about, it is much more important to concentrate on your own game.”

Habib was proud of the performances his side put up in the Asia Cup earlier in the year, when at one stage the spin of Nadeem Ahmed had reduced Pakistan to 161 for seven.

And he believes the experience gained by Hong Kong’s leading players by playing against the world’s top players will be beneficial for their cricketing careers.

“Taking on teams like Pakistan and India gave us a huge lift and gave us an opportunity for the guys to see what kind of cricketers of they are,” he said.

“The experience gave them confidence going into the ACC Elite Trophy and it really does show if you put in a lot of hard work and do well, you really can play against anyone.

“It was a great opportunity to see what standard they are at.”

Habib also admits that becoming a cricket coach wasn’t always an ambition when he was younger.

“It was only at the age of 17 or 18 that I realised that I was going to be a professional cricketer and I just wanted to perform well for Leicestershire at the time,” he said.

“Having the opportunity to play for England was a huge honour – there are so many great cricketers to choose from.

“I never really thought about going into coaching, but I used to go in the off-season overseas to places like New Zealand, where I played and did some coaching to earn some money and I got a taste for it.

“I was very fortunate the position of coach of Hong Kong was available last year and I got it.”