ICC praise for Hong Kong T20 Blitz: 11.8 million views worldwide
World governing body says others can learn from local organisers, who belied their status as an associate member
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has praised Hong Kong for staging the DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz, with official figures revealing that millions of cricket fans around the world watched the tournament live from March 8-12。
Cricket Hong Kong said on Wednesday that viewership numbers wildly surpassed targets, with 11.8 million views on Facebook and YouTube across five days – firmly establishing the tournament on the global Twenty20 calendar. Last year’s rain-shortened, three-day event garnered 51,000 views.
Significantly, the number of people watching in Hong Kong rose to 146,000 online, from 8,000 last year, while the weekend was sold out with about 2,000 turning up at the Mission Road grounds each day.
“I was thoroughly impressed not only with the quality of the stream but with the attention to detail of the tournament,” said ICC head of global development William Glenright.
“The Hong Kong T20 Blitz reflected the quality and professionalism of a member association that we can – and should – learn from.
“That the tournament was so successfully delivered by an associate member is particularly impressive. [Hong Kong] demonstrated a capacity and an eagerness to attract more international competitions to Hong Kong which is something we want to encourage amongst our associate members.”
