[Hong Kong, 28 September, 2018]:

China Cricket International Limited [CCIL] announced today that the Hong Kong World Sixes 2018 and the Hong Kong T20 Blitz 2019 will be moved from their traditional places on the local sporting calendar and amalgamated into a week-long world festival of cricket in Autumn 2019.

“With two established tournaments in such close proximity to each other - and in the midst of an increasingly congested international cricket calendar, particulary in February, we have seen an opportunity to create synergy by combining these two premier international tournaments into a unique multi-day festival of cricket,” said Mr Jonathan Cummings, Board Member of CCIL, the commercial arm of Cricket Hong Kong.

“This will allow us to realise the very exciting opportunities created by joining these two high profile international events in a larger platform that will also showcase the best of Hong Kong cricket to the world.

“The new event will be built on a platform of Innovation and Inclusivity – values that truly showcase what cricket in Hong Kong is all about, from our outstanding national women’s team, to our work promoting the game in China and our outreach to local schools and Hong Kong’s non-ethnic Chinese community, for which this tournament holds particular relevance.

“In the days before the advent of T20, the Sixes helped to carve out a singular role for Hong Kong in the sport’s global landscape. The world festival of cricket allows us to revitalise and reinvent that position, while enhancing our fan engagement, event experience and commercial appeal.

“While we share the fans’ disappointment at not having a Sixes or a Blitz in the short-term, by establishing the world festival on the cricket calendar a full year out, we are confident of creating a sustainable major event that will captivate local and international audiences and provide a compelling platform to promote Hong Kong and Hong Kong cricket worldwide, sustainably and long-term.

“The festival format also provides greater opportunities for our commercial partners, including Virgin Atlantic, Accenture, Hublot and KPMG - whom we sincerely thank for their committed support to previous tournaments and their interest to be involved in the world festival of cricket - to benefit from their association with the game,” Cummings said.

Local fans are already set to enjoy plenty of cricket action this October with an in-form Hong Kong national team defending home turf in the South China Cup and West Pacific Cup tournaments, alongside Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.

International celebrity cricket charity side, The Lord’s Taverners, will also tour Hong Kong next month, while a celebration of the T20 Blitz is planned for early next year as part of a year-long build-up campaign to the inaugural Hong Kong World Festival of Cricket.

More details on the Hong Kong World Festival of Cricket will be announced in due course.