Hong Kong set to host cricket internationals in Guangzhou

Top ICC official Richard Done is receptive to the idea of Hong Kong using the Guangzhou cricket stadium in the short term to host matches in the Intercontinental Cup as well as one-day internationals.

Done, the International Cricket Council's high performance manager, who is on his second visit to Hong Kong, will be shown the facility by Hong Kong Cricket Association officials on Monday. On Friday, he declared he was open to the idea of the ground - which was built in 2010 for the Asian Games - being used by Hong Kong as a stopgap measure.

"From what I have heard of the venue, I think it is a feasible option for Hong Kong to solve their short-term problems of not having an international-sized ground," Done said. "I will be going on Monday to have a look, but it seems the perfect venue."

Hong Kong, who have been elevated to the top tier of associate countries - eight in total including Ireland and Afghanistan - will make their Intercontinental Cup (four-day fixtures) debut against Namibia in Windhoek next month. They will also play a couple of 50-over matches as well as Twenty20 games.

"Hong Kong does not have a ground that fills the ICC's criteria and as such the first two rounds of the I-Cup for Hong Kong will be played away. But at some stage, by next year, Hong Kong will need to be able to host matches and in this sense Guangzhou is ideal," Done said.

Mission Road, the only ground capable of hosting an international fixture under the ICC's requirements has still not been approved, resulting in local officials having another look at Guangzhou.

The HKCA is still waiting for the government to come good with promises made on providing grounds including an international-sized venue at the former Vietnamese detention centre in Whitehead in Ma On Shan.