THE organisers of the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are to step up their efforts to receive official backing from the world governing body, the International Cricket Council.
The executive director of tournament promoters Cricket World International, Brian Catton, said he would recommend to the sponsors and to the Hong Kong Cricket Association that the ICC be approached as soon as possible.
''What we need now is the ICC to endorse the tournament and get a window in their international calendar for this event,'' said Catton.
''This would then become the Sixes weekend around the world and countries would be able to work round it.
''I feel that is the way ahead for the tournament and I will be recommending this course of action to the association and to the sponsors when we meet in two weeks' time.'' CWI, the association and the two main sponsors, Cathay Pacific and Wharf Holdings, will meet to discuss several points arising from the second Sixes - which were held on Friday and Saturday at the Kowloon Cricket Club - including the venue for next year'sstadium and the format.
The first two Sixes tournaments were held at the KCC, which can accommodate around 5,000 spectators.
But the new Hong Kong Stadium, with its 40,000 capacity, will be available from next March and this would be one option for the organisers.