HONG KONG SIXES SHINES BRIGHT
 Hong Kong, September 24, 2010 – The world-famous Hong Kong Cricket Sixes has forged a long-term sponsorship relationship with jewelers, the Karp Group, which will allow the Hong Kong Cricket Association to firmly establish the tournament on the international cricketing calendar as well as to ensure the development of the game locally.
A five-year multi-million dollar sponsorship deal beginning in 2010 has been struck for the popular tournament - to be played at the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 6-7 – which will ensure the financial viability of the event and assure funds for the local game.
“We are delighted that after the overwhelming success of the 2009 tournament, that the Karp Group has seen the value in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes,” said Captain Shahzada Saleem Ahmed, president of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.
“The Karp Group & PC Jeweller Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will be watched by millions of fans worldwide, and will provide a great driver for the development of the game in Hong Kong,” Captain Saleem added.
The Karp Group, who came in at the final hour last year, have agreed to generous terms in signing up for a longer stint at the wicket with partners, the Hong Kong Cricket Association.
“This year alone, they have signed up as title sponsors for more than twice the amount they paid last year,” said Dinesh Tandon, Hong Kong Cricket Association chairman.
“Obviously they have realised the potential this tournament holds as a marketing tool, especially in India. The commercial opportunity and wide exposure on television is enormous,” Tandon said.
“It is a win-win situation for both of us for with the funds we get local cricket can now get on with the important business of pushing the boundaries further,” Tandon added.
Ramesh Virani, Karp Group managing director, said: “We are thrilled to be associated with a top-class international cricket event. The fact that we are committed for five years is proof of the pudding – that the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is a quality and exciting tournament which has caught the imagination of millions of fans.”
Eight teams will take part in the two-day tournament. They are Australia, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
The teams which will be drawn into two group of four in the preliminary round will fight it out for total prize money of US$150,000.
The tournament will be beamed live to more than 80 million households around the world by Ten Sports who have signed on as host broadcasters once again.
The coverage which will be seen live on the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as packaged to North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China is just one facet of the illustrious Sixes which this year is once again financially supported by the Hong Kong government which has granted it the M-mark, or major event, status.
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