MEDIA
RELEASE
PAKISTAN TOP SEEDS FOR 2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD
CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES
HONG KONG, September
23: Pakistan will tackle arch-rivals India and hosts Hong Kong
in the pool
stage as they
embark on their
bid for an unprecedented third successive triumph in the 2003
Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket
Sixes.
The defending champions
and raging pre-tournament favourites have been drawn in Pool
1 in the ninth edition of
the world's
premier Sixes tournament that will be hosted by the Kowloon
Cricket Club on November 1-2 and boasts a prize fund of US$260,000.
Pakistan, who defeated India in the Cup semi-final
last year, will commence their 2003 campaign with a match against
New
Zealand, who are making their first appearance in the tournament
since
1996.
Assuming they emerge unscathed from that encounter
they will be able to ensure their place in the last four of the
Cup
competition by overcoming India on Saturday afternoon. (November
1). They
complete the first stage with a contest against Hong Kong
on Sunday morning (November).
Meanwhile, England,
last year's runners-up, have been drawn
in Pool 2 where they will face strong opposition from South
Africa, Sri Lanka and tournament debutants Kenya.
"With Pakistan taking on India and England
facing South Africa in the pool stage, it offers a mouth-watering
prospect for the
opening day of the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered
Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes," said Sunil Gavaskar,
the great Indian batsman, reacting to the draw.
"Given their recent record in the tournament,
you would have to say that Pakistan will be the team to beat,
but in this exciting
form of cricket it's quite possible that there could
be an upset," said Gavaskar.
Mike Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket
Association (HKCA), said that the draw was based on seedings
from the
last two
editions of the Sixes. For Kenya and New Zealand, who have
not participated
during that time, their performances at the last World Cup
were taken into consideration.
As expected, Pakistan are top seeds with two-time
Sixes champions England seeded second, followed by South Africa,
India, Sri
Lanka, Hong Kong, Kenya and New Zealand.
"The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong
Kong International Cricket Sixes is firmly established as the
leading event of its
kind in the world and we're confident that the 2003
edition will prove to be the best yet," said Walsh.
Sunil Gavaskar announces the draw for the 2003
Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. Copyright
© CCIL
All smiles at the draw for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered
Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. Copyright © CCIL
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/Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further
information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.
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