‘Sometimes you pinch yourself’: how the Hong Kong T20 Blitz went from one overseas player to 27 in two years
A record number of foreign recruits will take part in February’s third edition of the tournament at Mission Road
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke was the sole overseas participant at the inaugural Hong Kong T20 Blitz in 2016. Just two years later, there are 27 foreign recruits as more world-class cricketers look to compete in one of the globe’s fastest-growing T20 tournaments.
Max Abbott, head of major tournaments at Cricket Hong Kong, was one of the pioneers who put together the 2016 event inside two months and he admitted he was surprised by how rapidly the Blitz has established itself.
“When we started this in 2016, I don’t think we ever anticipated that in 2018 we’d have 27 high quality overseas players coming for this tournament,” Abbott said of an event that has also secured broadcasting rights to a potential audience of 175 million.
“Sometimes you pinch yourself a bit, the owners commitment to lifting the profile has been far beyond what we’d have anticipated.
“We’re all doing this for Hong Kong and to promote sport and cricket here on a world stage – we hope more and more will want to join us on that journey.”
