appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paul McNamara

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, which gets under way with a series of blockbuster fixtures on Friday, has received an eleventh-hour boost – by being awarded “M” Mark status by the city’s Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC).
Local cricket chiefs applied for government support in early April. After a protracted process, they learned on the eve of the Sixes’ return from a seven-year absence that the MSEC had signed off on backing worth up to HK$15 million (US$1.93 million) in matching funds.
Hong Kong face South Africa in the opening match of the three-day tournament at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Friday morning. Other first-day highlights include clashes between India and Pakistan, and Australia and England, who confirmed this week that former Test and white-ball international all-rounder Ravi Bopara would captain their team in Hong Kong.
Ravi Nagdev, the general manager of Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHKC), said MSEC officials recognised the Sixes’ “strong reach” meant “the eyes of the world would be on Hong Kong” throughout the tournament.
CHKC’s broadcasting partnership with Star Sports is expected to generate a global television audience of around 380 million over the three days.

Nagdev said CHKC had been ambitious in staging a larger-scale Sixes, which will feature 12 teams for only its second edition in 12 years. The 2017 tournament, which was won for a record-equalling fifth time by South Africa, marked the Sixes’ return after five years away.
It failed to reestablish a foothold, however, because of multiple factors, including cricket’s squeezed itinerary, Covid-19 and difficulties obtaining sponsorship.
This year, the objective is to stage a competition that provides the springboard for carving out a prominent window for the Sixes in cricket’s increasingly clogged calendar.
“Cricket is the world’s second most popular sport and the interest in the Sixes, in India in particular, is enormous,” Nagdev said. “The players are social media stars; even those with a lower profile have millions of followers.”
The Sixes’ addition means Hong Kong will have staged a minimum of 23 ‘M’ Mark events in 2024, far and away the largest number since the system was introduced in 2004 as a vehicle for increasing the city’s standing as a major sports events host.
Burji Shroff, the CHKC chairman, said: “The support [from MSEC] helps us in elevating the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes to a truly global level, where we have the opportunity to not just attract world-class talent, but also showcase our wonderful city to the rest of the world.”
This year’s “M” Mark picks have experienced mixed fortunes. The golden goose rugby sevens was an unmitigated success, while a LIV Golf tournament and Volleyball Nations League leg were well received. Other events, such as the recent Baseball5 World Cup, failed to attract meaningful crowd numbers.

Only limited tickets remain available for the Sixes’ opening day, at a venue capable of welcoming 2,700 paying spectators, while CHKC reported “strong sales” for the weekend dates.
Fans’ interest has been piqued despite the local cricket body having to ration its promotional activities while waiting for news of its “M” Mark application.
Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, chairman of the MSEC, said he was “delighted” to confer “M” Mark status on the Sixes and hoped it attracted “more visitors from abroad, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a centre for major international sports events”.
England, Pakistan and South Africa, meanwhile, are all targeting record-breaking sixth Sixes titles this year.
The English attempt will be spearheaded by Bopara, who has almost 4,000 international runs. The 39-year-old, who was a London Spirit teammate of England batsmen Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope in this year’s Hundred competition, has forged a successful career as a white-ball gun for hire since leaving Essex in 2019.
His England Sixes colleagues will include another all-format international in Samit Patel, the ex-England youth all-rounder James Coles, 20, and experienced county campaigners Ed Barnard and Alex Davies.


Indian Premier League club bosses, Hong Kong cricket aim ‘to go global’ with Sixes

Hong Kong primed for T20 Asia Cup India cricket clash, stars atoning for 2024 heartbreak

Taking sport into schools at heart of Hong Kong development plan, but is it enough?

Hong Kong cricketers have ‘transformational’ chance after sealing Asian Games spot

Cricket Hong Kong

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes awarded ‘M’ Mark status, England include two Test stars in squad

Nizakat Khan will captain hosts Hong Kong at this week’s Sixes tournament. Photo: Handout

South Africa won the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes when it was last staged in 2017. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens was a major event triumph for 2024. Photo: Elson Li

Siobhan Haughey facing ‘major decision’ on future, to take months-long break from swimming

Siobhan Haughey will be 30 by the time the next Olympics rolls around in 2028. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong sports chief targets rugby test event at Kai Tak as next step in stadium plan

Kai Tak Sports Park will host its first test event on Sunday, a second division football match between Sai Kung and Wong Tai Sin. Photo: Sam Tsang

The athletics track that will run around the pitch at the youth sports ground has yet to be laid. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong cricket captain says Afghanistan win ‘morale changing’, harbours ‘first-class dream’

Captain Nizakat Khan’s fluent 61 led Hong Kong to victory over Afghanistan ‘A’. Photo: Nizakat Khan

Nizakat is returning to Hong Kong for the Sixes before dashing to join his teammates in Uganda. Photo: Nizakat Khan

Sport

Cricket

Hong Kong

Three-day tournament expected to attract global audience of around 380 million as a result of huge South Asian interest


Three-day tournament expected to attract global audience of around 380 million as a result of huge South Asian interest.


Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes awarded ‘M’ Mark status, England include two Test stars in squad

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Three-day tournament expected to attract global audience of around 380 million as a result of huge South Asian interest

Three-day tournament expected to attract global audience of around 380 million as a result of huge South Asian interest