Organisers forced to cancel Hong Kong Sixes once again
HKCA puts blame firmly on Mega Events Fund for refusing to put up the millions needed to stage the popular event, despite several applications
The fear of "jeopardising the financial health of Hong Kong cricket" has forced organisers of the Hong Kong Sixes to cancel the tournament for the second year running.
Hong Kong Cricket Association chairman Mike Walsh rued the lack of financial support from the government as well as the corporate sector in backing the tournament, which has been graced by legends such as Brian Lara, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shane Warne.
"This obviously comes as a major blow but we are obliged to face reality that there is not the corporate nor government will to spend the type of money required to stage a major international event of this sort," said Walsh.
Months of chasing a title sponsor after the government's Mega Events Fund (MEF) turned down two applications for funding proved fruitless, forcing the HKCA to throw in the towel rather than take the risk of using its own funds to stage the two-day tournament in November.
The HKCA laid the blame squarely on the Hong Kong Tourism Commission-run MEF, which over the past two years has knocked back at least three separate applications for millions of dollars in funding.
"Without support from the Mega Events Fund, the costs of staging the tournament in 2014 were significantly increased, making securing sufficient corporate sponsorship a challenge," said Walsh.
"After an intensive sponsorship search proved unsuccessful, the HKCA was reluctantly forced to cancel the tournament rather than jeopardise the financial health of Hong Kong cricket.