Losing pitches to public park puts HKCA on sticky wicket

Hong Kong cricket will suffer a body blow when they lose two pitches at the Po Kong Village Road (PKVR) grounds at Diamond Hill by the end of November due to a move to redevelop the venue into a public park.

'This is a big blow for us,' said Clive Howard, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association. 'We are continually talking to the government to provide alternative venues, but that will not happen overnight.'

The loss has had an immediate impact with the association being forced to cut down the number of rounds in the Saturday League this season.

The premier nine-team Sunday League - which starts this weekend - will result in three teams having a bye every weekend.

This is due to only three grounds being available - Hong Kong Cricket Club, Kowloon Cricket Club and Mission Road.

'Teams in the Saturday League will have a little less cricket this season,' Howard said. 'We have had to reorganise the format into two divisions. The Sunday League will also have fewer teams, but that is more to sides being unable to find players, rather than the ground situation.'

The PKVR ground, on top of the Diamond Hill MTR station, will close its gates at the end of November for redevelopment which is estimated to take two years.