KARP Group & NOW TV sign on for 2011 Elite Player Series

The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) is pleased to announce that KARP Group, a title sponsor of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for the past two years, will sponsor the 2011 KARP Group Elite Player Series during May and June 2011. HKCA is also delighted to announce that NOW TV will provide match highlights from each game in the series - a first for a domestic cricket tournament in Hong Kong.

In announcing his company's sponsorship deal, Ramesh Maldar, Chairman of KARP Group, said, "I am a sportsman and I love the sport of cricket. The KARP Group has been sponsoring the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for the past two years and we trust and have confidence that HKCA can expand and improve local cricket with the help of our sponsorship. For a sponsorship to be successful and meaningful it has to be on a long-term rather than ad hoc basis. KARP Group has a 5-year plan with more than HK$5M budget to sponsor HKCA in all cricket development aspects. To sponsor the 2011 KARP Group Elite Player Series is only the beginning of our plan."

Danny Lai, General Manager of HKCA said " We are very pleased that KARP Group sees the potential in Hong Kong cricket. I have to echo Ramesh's view on commercial sponsorship. Sponsorship for any sport has to be long-term and able to grow with the sport."

He added, "We have also secured NOW TV to show highlights after every match day on its Sports Channel. It is a major breakthrough to have television to cover domestic cricket on television. I am really pleased to see Hong Kong cricket has successfully raised its profile in the last two years to new heights".

Commenting on the two sponsorship announcements, HKCA Chairman, Dinesh Tandoon, said, "It is important for us to create channels to improve visibility of cricket in Hong Kong. The objective is to broaden the base and reach out to as many people as possible. Getting television coverage and attracting KARP Group to sponsor our Elite series hopefully is a big step in achieving our objectives of promoting developing and sustaining the game."

The 2011 KARP Group Elite Player Series will feature both 50-over and Twenty20 format matches played by three teams comprising the 42 best senior and junior cricketers in Hong Kong. With the majority of players eligible to play for Hong Kong selection, there will be plenty at stake for the players. The National Selectors will be taking a keen interest in player performances and at the conclusion of the tournament, a squad of 18-20 players will be named in the Hong Kong National Squad for the coming 12 months.

For further information, please contact Danny Lai, HKCA General Manager, on 2504-8102 or danny@hkcricket.org.