MEDIA RELEASE

WORLD'S BEST SET FOR CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG CRICKET SIXES

HONG KONG, September 2 - Pakistan will be aiming for an unprecedented third successive triumph when they take to the field in the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.

Boasting a prize fund of US$260,000, the ninth edition of the world's premier Sixes tournament will be hosted by the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 1-2.

"The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is firmly established as the leading event of its kind in the world," said Mike Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA).

"It will be another major international sporting event to take in place in Hong Kong following SARS, and we are indebted to the continuing support of our title sponsors, Cathay Pacific Airways and Standard Chartered Bank," said Walsh.

While Pakistan, tournament winners in 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2002, are sure to be installed as favourites, they will pushed hard by teams representing England, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, winners of the Plate competition last year.

The 2003 event will also include Kenya, who will be making their debut in the tournament. Completing the eight-strong line-up will be New Zealand, whose last appearance in the event came in 1996.

Conspicuous by their absence for the first time since the event's inauguration in 1992 will be Australia. "We asked that the Australians send a strong team, but because of their domestic schedule they were unable to give us that assurance, which was forthcoming from both Kenya and New Zealand. It was decided, therefore, to include the alternative choices until such time as that situation should change," said Walsh.

Led by the inspirational Wasim Akram, Pakistan defeated South Africa in the 2001 Cup final and retained their title by beating England in last year's final. The 2002 tournament was also notable for Hong Kong's victory over Sri Lanka in the Plate competition, one of the finest achievements in the SAR's cricketing history.

Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will go on sale next Monday (September 8). 'Early bird' two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 years and younger. After October 17, the prices will increase to HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children.

Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicketkeeper, bowling one over. The eight competing teams are split into two groups of four and will play each other on a round-robin basis on day one.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup competition knockout stages, while the bottom two teams in each of the pools will compete for the Plate.The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 1-2.

Early bird two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 years and younger, and are on sale through Cityline (www.cityline.com.hk) as well as at the following outlets:

• Hong Kong Cricket Club
  137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley
  2574 6266
• Kowloon Cricket Club
  10 Cox's Road, Jordan
  2367 4141
• Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
  Prince's Building, Central
  2810 6988
• Hong Kong Cricket Association
  Room 1019 Sports House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po
  2504 8102

Provided by CCIL. For further information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.

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