Players gear up for Chiang Mai Sixes

The 22nd annual Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes starts on Sunday at the picturesque Chiengmai Gymkhana Club in Thailand. Despite the economic crunch, organisers of the event say it has attracted a keen and competitive range of teams from all over the world.

Thirty-two men's sides and three women's outfits have registered for the week of action. Up to 15 matches a day will be held involving squads from Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, England, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Other players are attending from India, Sri Lanka, the USA and Belgium.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister of Thailand, has welcomed the visitors to the popular event, which helps develop cricket in the country. "I am especially pleased to hear about the efforts you are making, along with the Asian Cricket Council, to develop children's cricket in Thailand, and I believe that several thousand Thai school children have already discovered the joys of playing the game," he said. "This is particularly relevant considering that cricket will be an official sport at the 16th Asian Games being held in Guangzhou China in November of next year."