The controversy-ridden Sunday League grand final between Little Sai Wan and Pakistan Association will now go ahead at Hong Kong Cricket Club - on Saturday.
The game will start minutes before the Hong Kong Cricket Association's (HKCA) executive committee is to convene in what is expected to be an acrimonious meeting following KCC Infidels' failed bid to oust Pakistan Association from the final.
The showpiece game of the 2011-12 season was cancelled at the 11th hour last Sunday after Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) refused to allow the 50-overs match to go ahead at its Cox's Road ground. KCC felt that the Infidels should have been playing instead of Pakistan Association, who had been found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the semi-finals.
The HKCA penalised Pakistan Association subsequently, but the penalty was deemed insufficient by KCC officials, who hope to bring up their grievance again at Saturday's executive committee meeting.
Plans to hold the final at Mission Road on Sunday were stymied because the ground is under summer maintenance by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
However, HKCC stepped in and said it would make its turf pitch available, but on Saturday. 'We are very grateful to the HKCC for making their ground available for the biggest match of the season,' said Shahzada Saleem, HKCA president. 'Unfortunately the ground has been booked on Sunday, but still we are thankful that we can use it on Saturday.'
Pakistan Association fielded the ineligible player in the semi-final against Infidels a fortnight ago. After losing, KCC lodged a protest with the HKCA's match disciplinary committee, saying that their opponents should forfeit the game for fielding fast bowler Adil Mehmood, who hadn't played all season.