INDIA SEEDED AT CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES
|
| Robin Singh's India team will be hoping to emulate their 2005 triumph. © CCIL |
|
Hong Kong, October 6, 2006: India have been rewarded for their historic victory last year by being installed as one of three seeds for the 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.
Robin Singh will once more be the man at the helm when the Indians bid to retain their title in the 12th edition of the world’s richest and most prestigious Sixes tournament at the Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) on November 11-12.
"Last year was the first time India won the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes and based on that performance they were worthy of being seeded this time,” said Clive Howard, Chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), who confirmed that the tournament will feature nine teams this year.
In addition to the eight teams – Australia, England, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies – who competed last year, New Zealand have been added. "Having an extra Test-playing nation will certainly enhance the tournament and add further spice,” said Howard.
Carrying a first prize of US$100,000 and total prize-money of US$280,000, the increase to nine teams means the format will consist of three stages. The first and second stages will be a round-robin format in three pools of three teams with the final stage being on a knockout basis.
The all-action short form version of the game has been thrilling the SAR crowds since its inception in 1992 and HKCA officials believe that this year will be the best yet.
Howard, who will oversee the official draw on Monday (October 9), said: "It’s shaping up to be the best Sixes ever, not only in terms of the number of competing teams but also with the quality of players we are expecting.
"The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes continues to be a unique undertaking with no other event bringing so many top cricketing nations together at one venue.
"We are indebted to the continuing support of our title sponsors, Cathay Pacific Airways and Standard Chartered Bank.”
England, tournament winners in 1993, 1994, 2003 and 2004, have already confirmed a powerful squad, led by Dominic Cork and including Darren Gough, Darren Maddy and Kabir Ali. They will be top seeds in one of the first-stage pools with Sri Lanka edging out Pakistan for the honour of being top seeds in the third pool.
David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors and the England manager for the Hong Kong event, said: "We have selected a very strong squad of players exceptionally well suited to this format of cricket, four of whom have represented England in One-Day International cricket this year.”
James Barrington, Director Sales and Marketing, Cathay Pacific Airways, said: "It gives me great pleasure to announce that Cathay Pacific Airways is joining together with Standard Chartered once again to sponsor the 2006 Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.
"As the airline of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is committed to building Hong Kong into a regional centre for top events. We will continue to bring world-class sporting and cultural attractions to the city that’s been our home for 60 years.”
Andrew Bester, Co-Head Wholesale Banking, Greater China and Japan, for Standard Chartered said:
"An international sporting event of this nature certainly helps raise the profile of Hong Kong and we are proud to be a part of that. Significant markets in our international network are represented on the pitch – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong and in the same way that Standard Chartered is delivering its network for clients in these countries, we believe that this Cricket Sixes sponsorship also delivers our network to Hong Kong."
In the climax to a spectacular weekend of cricket at the KCC last year, India scored a comprehensive four-wicket Cup final victory over surprise finalists West Indies.
Tickets for next month’s Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are available from Monday (October 9). Two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 and under. Special tickets are priced at HK$550 and include reserved seating, a lunch box for both days of the event and an Official Programme.
Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicket-keeper, bowling one over.
In the Pool stages each team will play the other teams in the Pool once. After the first stage, the top two teams in each Pool will enter the Bradman and Sobers Groups with the third-placed teams forming the Cowdrey Group.
Each Group team will play the other teams in the Group once. The final standing in the Cowdrey Group will be determined after this stage. The top six placings will be determined by play-offs between equally placed teams in the Bradman and Sobers Groups.
The 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox’s Road, Kowloon, on November 11-12. Special tickets are priced at HK$550 and include reserved seating, a lunch box for both days of the event and an Official Programme. Two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 14 and under, and are on sale from Monday, October 9 at the following outlets: Hong Kong Cricket Association (Tel: 2504-8102); Kowloon Cricket Club (10 Cox’s Road, Jordan, 2367-4141); Hong Kong Cricket Club (137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley, 2574-6266); Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Prince’s Building, Central 2810-6988); The Viceroy (Wanchai 2827-7777); Gaylord Restaurant (Tsim Sha Tsui 2376-1001) and Bayside Brasserie (Stanley 2899-0818) . For further inquiries please visit www.hksixes.com or call 2504-8103.
Provided by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Charles Lau or Novan Tang at (852) 2504-8101. |
