The Hong Kong Sixes has become a victim of its own success.
A senior member of the organising committee of the popular event has revealed that since the tournament came under the umbrella of the International Cricket Council, it has become more difficult to attract top names of world cricket to the territory.
'We thought that we would benefit after we got ICC sanction. But support has still not been forthcoming and we are finding it harder to get the star players here,' said Papu Butani, executive director of Cricket World International, yesterday.
Tournament organisers are presently struggling to confirm top-quality representation from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the September 27-28 event at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Last year, the Hong Kong Sixes was officially recognised by the world governing body. It was hoped this would pave the way for the cricket boards of the Test-playing nations to send their most competitive sides to Hong Kong.
Unfortunately for the organisers, most of the boards - especially those from the sub-continent, which is the key to television coverage - have not been very supportive. And the ICC, despite its promises to increase the profile of the game worldwide, is powerless to tell the boards to send their best sides.
