New CEO would help Hong Kong move to next level, says Walsh
The search is on for the Hong Kong Cricket Association to find a chief executive as the game attempts to take the next step up in world cricket after being awarded ODI (one-day international) status this year.
The position will be the first created since the local governing body became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1969 with HKCA chairman Mike Walsh believing the need for a more professional outlook was vital.
"To get to the next level we need someone who can look at the business of growing cricket from a corporate point of view," Walsh said.
The feedback we have had from the ICC says this is the way to go for Hong Kong
"The new chief executive will of course answer to the executive, but will have full responsibility of running the game on a day-to-day basis."
Hong Kong cricket, which has long-relied on its volunteers, has been elevated to the top six associate countries in the world after coming within a whisker of qualifying for the World Cup (50 overs) next year.
The national team have been granted ODI status, and they will also play in the forthcoming Intercontinental Cup (four-day cricket) against other top associates Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea.
As a leading associate member, Hong Kong is also set to benefit financially once the ICC announces its new funding scheme when new television and broadcasting deals have been confirmed. It is understood that they could be worth more than US$2 billion from 2015-2023.
"All the test nations, as well as top associate countries like Ireland and Scotland, have got a chief executive running the day-to-day matters and the feedback we have had from the ICC, as well as the ACC (Asian Cricket Council), is that this is the way to go for Hong Kong, too," Walsh said.
It is believed the world and Asian governing bodies will fund the newly created position initially before the HKCA takes on the responsibility of paying for a full-time professional who can help to promote the game from the grass roots to the elite level.
"It will be a self-funding affair after the first year. It has to be for we cannot allow this to be a drain on the local game," said Walsh.
"One of the main tasks will be fund-raising, so that we don't have problems like those we have faced with the Hong Kong Sixes for the past couple of years."
It is hoped the new chief executive will be in place by early next year.
"In an ideal world, the best candidate would be Chinese, but it would be quite difficult right now to get someone to fit the bill. We will keep an open mind," Walsh added
