The Hong Kong Cricket Association will host the International Cricket Council annual conference in the last week of June, a significant coup for the city.
The meeting of the movers and shakers in world cricket was traditionally held in London and then in Dubai when the council shifted its headquarters there a few years ago. Last year it was held in Singapore, but this year the five-day conference will be held in Hong Kong.
'It's a massive boost for us and will raise the profile of Hong Kong cricket even more,' said Dinesh Tandon, association chairman. 'This will give us face time and the chance to rub shoulders with the most powerful men in the world game.'
The association, led by its president Shahzada Saleem, and Tandon, lobbied council chief executive Haroon Lorgat to bring the conference to Hong Kong when he was in town for the council's World Cricket League Division Three tournament last month, which was won by the hosts.
'We have received verbal acknowledgment that the conference will be held here. Now the hard work begins. We need support from the government and its agencies, especially the Hong Kong Tourism Board, to make this event an outstanding success,' Tandon said.
The council had been looking at a venue on the mainland but has now plumped for Hong Kong.