MEDIA
RELEASE
INDIAN GREAT GAVASKAR TO ANNOUNCE DRAW FOR
2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL
CRICKET SIXES
Sunil Gavaskar
©
Cricinfo |
HONG KONG, September
19 - Legendary Indian
batsman Sunil Gavaskar will once more be on the front foot
when
he announces the draw
for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International
Cricket Sixes.
Gavaskar, who made
125 Test match appearances in a brilliant career, will be at
the Kowloon Cricket Club next
Tuesday (September
23) to give his reaction to the pool pairings for the ninth
edition of the world's premier Sixes tournament, scheduled
for November 1-2.
And the opener turned
television commentator is certain to have intriguing views
about the Sixes format and
also about
his home
country's prospects of claiming the prestigious Hong
Kong title for the first time.
"Naturally, I would be thrilled to see an
Indian victory in Hong Kong. But based on the results of the
tournament in recent years
it is difficult to back against Pakistan," said 54-year-old
Gavaskar, referring to the team who will be bidding for an
unprecedented third successive triumph in the 2003 edition
of the event sponsored
by Cathay Pacific Airways and Standard Chartered Bank.
According to Gavaskar,
though, the Pakistanis can expect strong opposition from each
of the other seven competing
nations – in
particular last year's runners-up England and South
Africa.
Gavaskar is also looking forward to monitoring
the performance of tournament debutants Kenya, the surprise package
at the
2003 World Cup in South Africa where they stunned the cricketing
world
by reaching the semi-finals.
In a serious statement of intent for the Hong
Kong event, the Kenyans have named their strongest possible squad
for
the Sixes.
Team manager Andy Moles
will bring a side featuring inspirational captain Steven Tikolo,
Kenya's best known and most accomplished
cricketer whose attacking instincts with the bat are sure
to thrill the spectators at Kowloon Cricket Club.
Also in the Kenyan line-up will be all-rounder
Thomas Odoyo, opening batsman Ravindu Shah, paceman Martin Suji,
rising
star Collins Obuya and off-spinner Maurice Odumbe, remembered
for
his man-of-the-match 10-over spell that brought him three
wickets for 15 runs in the historic 1996 World Cup defeat
of West Indies.
Tickets for the 2003
Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket
Sixes are selling fast. '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 wicket-keeper, bowling one over.
The eight
competing teams are split into two groups of four and play
each other
on a round-robin basis on day one.
The top two teams in
each pool progress to the Cup competition knockout stages,
while the bottom two teams
in each of the
pools compete for the Plate.The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard
Chartered
Hong Kong International 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.
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