MEDIA
RELEASE
WORLD'S
BEST SET FOR CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG CRICKET
SIXES
HONG KONG, September 2 - Pakistan will be aiming for an unprecedented
third
successive triumph when they take to the field in the 2003
Cathay
Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
Boasting a prize fund of US$260,000, the ninth edition of the
world's
premier Sixes tournament will be hosted by the Kowloon Cricket
Club on
November 1-2.
"The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket
Sixes is firmly
established as the leading event of its kind in the world," said
Mike Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association
(HKCA).
"It will be another major international sporting event
to take in place in
Hong Kong following SARS, and we are indebted to the continuing
support of
our title sponsors, Cathay Pacific Airways and Standard Chartered
Bank," said Walsh.
While Pakistan, tournament winners in 1992, 1997, 2001 and
2002, are sure to
be installed as favourites, they will pushed hard by teams
representing
England, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong,
winners of the Plate
competition last year.
The 2003 event will also include Kenya, who will be making
their debut in
the tournament. Completing the eight-strong line-up will
be New Zealand,
whose last appearance in the event came in 1996.
Conspicuous by their absence for the first time
since the event's
inauguration in 1992 will be Australia. "We asked
that the Australians send
a strong team, but because of their domestic schedule they
were unable to
give us that assurance, which was forthcoming from both
Kenya and New
Zealand. It was decided, therefore, to include the alternative
choices until
such time as that situation should change," said
Walsh.
Led by the inspirational Wasim Akram, Pakistan defeated
South Africa in the
2001 Cup final and retained their title by beating England
in last year's
final. The 2002 tournament was also notable for Hong Kong's
victory over Sri
Lanka in the Plate competition, one of the finest achievements
in the SAR's
cricketing history.
Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered
Hong Kong Cricket
Sixes will go on sale next Monday (September 8). 'Early
bird' two-day ticket
prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for
children aged 15 years and younger. After October 17, the
prices will increase to HK$380 for adults and
HK$200 for children.
Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member,
other than the
wicketkeeper, bowling one over. The eight competing teams
are split into two
groups of four and will play each other on a round-robin
basis on day one.
The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup
competition knockout
stages, while the bottom two teams in each of the pools
will compete for the
Plate.The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong
Cricket Sixes will take
place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon
on November 1-2.
Early
bird two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for
children aged 15 years and younger,
and are on sale through Cityline (www.cityline.com.hk)
as well as at the
following outlets:
- Hong
Kong Cricket Club
137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley
2574 6266
- Kowloon
Cricket Club
10 Cox's Road, Jordan
2367 4141
- Dot
Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Prince's Building, Central
2810 6988
- Hong
Kong Cricket Association
Room 1019 Sports House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon
Po
2504 8102
Provided by CCIL. For further information,
please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.
[Terms and Conditions of Acceptance and
Entry]
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