China setback just a 'blip', insists ICC

The International Cricket Council's bid to stage its first major tournament on the mainland and fast-track China has suffered a severe blow. The world governing body has dropped the Asian Games' stadium in Guangzhou as a venue for the World Cricket League Division Three tournament, which begins on Saturday in Hong Kong.

"We didn't have enough time to sort out all the logistical details, mainly getting the visas sorted out for the visiting players," Edward Fitzgibbon, the ICC's tournament director, said yesterday.

"It is a pity, but this is just a mere blip and China is not off the ICC agenda."

Three games in the six-nation tournament, which includes the United States, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Oman and Denmark, were to be played in Guangzhou.

"Guangzhou will continue to be the gateway to the game's future in China," Fitzgibbon said.

"But for now we have decided to play the entire tournament in Hong Kong."

The purpose-built stadium in Guangzhou, which is rated as one the best in the world by the ICC, the Kowloon Cricket Club, the Hong Kong Cricket Club and Mission Road were nominated to host the January 22-29 tournament.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association, which has long-term plans to use the Asian Games stadium at University City in Guangzhou, was disappointed at the decision not to cross the border.

"We were looking forward to co-hosting this event with China since it would have allowed us to test the waters for future events," HKCA chairman Dinesh Tandon said.

The World Cricket League would have been the first ICC tournament on the mainland, where cricket is still a novelty despite being showcased at the Asian Games last November.

"It would have given China invaluable experience, allowed more officials in China to become familiar with the game and, of course, strengthened Hong Kong's cricketing bond with China," Tandon said.

"In any case, we will now focus on organising an excellent event in Hong Kong and hope in the near future either the ICC or ACC [Asian Cricket Council] decide upon co-hosting an event in Hong Kong and China. We are there to provide support in whatever form is needed in the future."

Apart from visa worries, the logistics of moving the teams to and from Hong Kong was developing into a "nightmare". Each team would have appeared once in Guangzhou.

"We would have loved to have played in Guangzhou," Fitzgibbon said. "And we will do so in the future. China, like the United States, figures hugely in our [ICC] plans."

Last year, ICC development manager Matthew Kennedy rated the Guangzhou facility as "world-class". After a visit there, he said: "I have been to a lot of ICC venues, but I have never seen a stadium and ground like that."

The start of the round-robin tournament on Saturday will see all six teams in action. Hong Kong play host to the United States at KCC, while Denmark meet Italy at HKCC and Papua New Guinea take on Oman at Mission Road.