Hong Kong Cricket Sixes Cancelled for 2013

The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) has confirmed the cancellation of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for 2013.

The Association cited a variety of reasons for the decision not to proceed with the event this October, but the primary concern was the difficulty in securing sufficient government funding and private sector backing in the difficult economic climate.

The HKCA Executive Committee the following statement, "We apologise to the many local cricket fans and our many long-serving corporate supporters for whom this weekend has been a highlight of the local calendar for many years, but it was decided by the Executive Committee that it would be better to cancel rather than leave the association open to a potentially significant financial loss.

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes Cancelled for 2013. Click to Enlarge. More Pictures.

"The rejection of the HKCA’s request for Hong Kong SAR Government funding through the Mega Events Fund was a significant blow to the association’s plans to mount the tournament and made finding a corporate underwriter for the tournament a significantly more expensive proposition in 2013 with the resulting shortened timeframe to find a title sponsor further exacerbating matters.

"HKCA understands the need to approach government, corporates and the international cricket boards as early as possible and so will very shortly start work on the 2014 event and will make every effort to return the Sixes to its rightful place in the International Calendar next year.

"With Hong Kong being the 20th ranked team in world cricket and considering the Sixes’ unique history and role as the showcase event for cricket in China and north Asia, we are still struggling to understand why we were rejected. But we remain thankful for the strong support we have received in years past from Government bodies like the Major Sports Executive Committee, LCSD, Home Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Police.

"We will make a further approach to the Mega Events Fund for next year as we believe that the potential of the Cricket Sixes to enhance Hong Kong’s position as a premier international sporting and tourism destination remains as strong as ever.

"The Association will stay in close contact with the many existing corporate partners as well as the numerous companies who expressed interest in supporting the tournament this year to manage their expectations and rekindle their excitement for a bigger and better tournament in 2014."

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in Hong Kong and is fully sanctioned by the world’s governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council.

The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2012 reached over 127 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China.

See also: Pictures from the 2012 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and HD Videos from 2012 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.