Hong Kong T20 Blitz expected to attract overseas cricket talent
Robin Peterson, England’s Owais Shah and Australia’s Nic Maddinson have expressed interest, says Hong Kong Cricket Association
Overseas players such as South Africa’s Robin Peterson, England’s Owais Shah and Australia’s Nic Maddinson have expressed interest in playing in Hong Kong’s inaugural T20 franchise-based tournament next month.
Max Abbott, the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s marketing & commercial director, said interest in the four-team event is high since franchises were put up for silent bidding about two weeks ago.
He said agents and players involved in Australia’s Big Bash tournament and elsewhere have approached the HKCA while companies are also keen to snap up one of the franchises before the bidding process closes on Saturday at midnight.
Because the tournament is over one weekend, it’s not like signing up for six weeks so the costs will be less
“We have interest from overseas players, such as Big Bash players, and overseas agents,” said Abbott. “Because the tournament is over one weekend, it’s not like signing up for six weeks so the costs of bringing these players will be less.
“It’s going to be up to the owners how they want to put their teams together. We would certainly encourage them to explore those option and we could easily have a situation where Big Bash players and players from other big T20 leagues are coming to play in Hong Kong.”
Watch Robin Peterson’s three wickets in the Caribbean league
The Hong Kong T20 Blitz will be held on May 28 and 29 at Mission Road. The four teams will share 12 Hong Kong national players as well as other cricketers who will be picked from a draft on April 28.