Kumble, Sehwag headline All-Stars for Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

2007 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes © CCIL

The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will welcome some of the biggest names in international cricket this year, when Indian duo Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble, Shahid Afridi of Pakistan and Heath Streak from Zimbabwe headline the event's first All-Star Team entry.

Hong Kong's annual carnival of elite cricket, first played in 1992 and famed for its frenetic pace and high-scoring action, returns to Kowloon Cricket Club next month from October 27-28.

Again featuring the world's eight leading cricketing nations (defending champions South Africa, Australia, New Zealand Kiwis, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, England and the West Indies) and hosts Hong Kong, the addition of an All-Star Team made up of the game's brightest stars comes as part of a range of initiatives to further enhance the event.

Sehwag, the first Indian to post a triple-century in a Test match, and Afridi, the scorer of the fastest hundred in one-day cricket history, are ideally suited to the thrill-a-minute nature of Sixes cricket.

Kumble, meanwhile, India's leading wicket-taker in both Test and one-day cricket, also showed his aptitude with the bat when recently posting his first Test hundred against England. The bowling and power hitting of the popular Streak, the lion-hearted former Zimbabwean skipper, will also add plenty of firepower in this quick-fire format of the game.

The remaining All-Star players are still to be finalised and with negotiations continuing with some of the world's leading cricketers, the new All-Star team promises to be a formidable threat for the title.

Said Clive Howard, Chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association: "The Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is one of cricket's most exciting tournaments and we are now focused on raising this event to another level.

"With the addition of the All-Star Team in 2007 we have shown the tournament organisers' commitment to developing this event into a world-class cricketing weekend. We will continue to welcome some of the biggest names in the game to one of the worlds most dynamic and exciting cities.

"This action will be seen across the globe through our new television partnerships, which is not only great news for the fans that will catch the big hitting, but also a great promotion for Hong Kong as well," said Howard.

Said James Barrington, Director, Sales and Marketing of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited: "As Hong Kong's home carrier, Cathay Pacific is delighted to be partnering with Standard Chartered Bank once again to help stage this high-profile and ever-popular event.

"The Hong Kong Sixes has been a popular draw among cricket lovers for the past 15 years and the addition of the All-Star team in this year's tournament will help to attract even more visitors to our city. We look forward to the 2007 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and the continued success of this great event."

Added Peter Sullivan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited: "Standard Chartered Bank is delighted to continue its support of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, together with our partners Cathay Pacific and in conjunction with the Hong Kong Cricket Association."

"As an integral part of the Hong Kong community, Standard Chartered is proud to help bring world-class sporting and community events to our city. I look forward to an exciting and entertaining cricket tournament this year."

Further assisting the event's long-term growth, the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will be seen by more cricket fans than ever before from this year with a 24-camera live broadcast being produced by IMG Media throughout the event.

Coverage will be seen globally, with Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and DIRECTV in the United States agreeing to show the tournament. Deals for Asia, Australia and South Africa are under negotiation.

Through its television reach, the tournament, which has received the prestigious 'M Mark' status from the Hong Kong Government for the first time in recognition of its international stature, will drive awareness of Hong Kong as a destination in many of the SAR's inbound markets where cricket is enormously popular.

Also part of today's launch, held at the Hong Kong Cricket Club, was the 2007 tournament draw. With the event including 10 teams for the first time, three groups were drawn into the following groups:

Bradman Group India, England, New Zealand

Sobers Group South Africa, West Indies, All-Stars, Australia

Cowdrey Group Pakistan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka

The event has earned a reputation as a world-class championship since being played in its first form in 1992, in no small part thanks to the galaxy of stars that has thrilled crowds over the years since then.

From Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar and Adam Gilchrist through to Brian Lara, Andrew Flintoff and Viv Richards, virtually every big name in modern cricket history has graced the event.

Last year, an unfancied South Africa defeated four-time champions Pakistan in a thrilling final, while the hosts Hong Kong finished fifth.

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About the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes
The International Cricket Sixes was first played in Hong Kong in 1992. The event quickly became and remains the world's foremost competition in this format.

The tournament features the world's leading cricketing nations, plus an All-Star Team of cricketing stars and hosts Hong Kong, in a dynamic professional event that has welcomed dozens of the world's very best players over the last 15 years. Those names include Wasim Akram, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist, Desmond Haynes, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

This year's event will be played at the Kowloon Cricket Club, set spectacularly amongst the skyscrapers of the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong, from October 27-28. For more information, visit www.cricketsixes.hk.

Released on behalf of the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes by brandRapport.

For further information, please contact:
Damien McDowell
brandRapport

T: (852) 2815 9876
E: dmcdowell@brand-rapport.com