Hong Kong T20 Blitz: franchise owners seek talks with organisers in bid to save 2019 tournament
- City Kaitak’s Sushil Kumar says franchises have already invested three years in the event and advises CHK not to pull the plug
- Cricket Hong Kong says ICC scheduling for the senior team means leading local talent would not be available for a 2019 edition of the Blitz
Three franchise owners have called on governing body Cricket Hong Kong to open talks on saving the Hong Kong T20 Blitz – suggesting that they could work together to overcome any financial hurdles.
The owners of City Kaitak, Hung Hom JD Jaguars and Kowloon Cantons are keen to see the tournament revived after being postponed from its February date to be part of a festival of cricket in October along with the Hong Kong Sixes.
However, CHK said on Monday that because of a busy fixture list for the Hong Kong representative team over the last three months of 2019, the Blitz may be devoid of local talent if it was to be held.
The Blitz, which had been held from 2016 to 2018, and the Sixes, have been running at a loss.
The franchise owners, however, are dismayed that CHK had failed to keep the teams updated on the tournament’s progress but they are still hopeful a fourth edition of the Blitz can go ahead this year.
City Kaitak owner Sushil Kumar said: “We want to collectively bring CHK to the table and discuss the way forward. The franchises have already invested in the three-year run of the Blitz and when it is time for the franchise to reap some benefits, CHK cannot pull the plug.
