Hong Kong T20 Blitz Explained

Hong Kong T20 Blitz
香港快閃板球賽 (Chinese)
Country: Hong Kong
Administrator:Cricket Hong Kong
Cricket Format:Twenty20
First:2016
Last:2018
Tournament Format:Round-robin and finals
Participants:5
Champions:Hung Hom JD Jaguars (1st title)
Most Successful:Kowloon Cantons (2 titles)
Most Runs:Dwayne Smith (259) [1]
Most Wickets:Saeed Ajmal (11) [2]
Tv:List of broadcasters
Website:Hong Kong T20 Blitz

The Hong Kong T20 Blitz was a cricket competition in Hong Kong that was first played in 2016. The inaugural event consisted of four franchised teams playing in a Twenty20 format only.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Kowloon Cantons and Woodworm Island Warriors were joint winners of the inaugural DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz after rain washed out finals day.[8]

In July 2019, the competition was cancelled, due to ongoing financial issues.[9]

History

The Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) announced their plans for the event in April 2016, stating they would invest in a Twenty20 cricket league for the development cricket in Hong Kong as well as in nearby countries. The competition would launch with four teams playing in a Twenty20 format. Cricket Hong Kong announced that DTC Mobiles will sponsor the tournament.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] The Agence France-Presse said, "A burgeoning Twenty20 tournament and growing interest from abroad is turning Hong Kong into one of Asia's fastest-rising cricketing destinations – and could help the sport make inroads into mainland China."[16]

Before the second season, Leonine Sports Group acquired the Woodworm Island Warriors, changing the name to Hong Kong Island (HKI) United. A new fifth franchise was also added and named City KaiTak.

Teams

Cricket Hong Kong announced the four hosts for the Hong Kong T20 Blitz League in April 2016, with hosting rights awarded for the first years of the competition. Team names, along with the fixtures and venues for the 2016 season, were announced in April 2016. The allocation of domestic players was decided by a draft held on April 28, 2016. All four franchises also subsequently signed a number of international players.[17] [18] [19] Tanwir Afzal, captain of the Hong Kong national cricket team, was selected as the first pick in the inaugural draft for tournament by Woodworm Island Warriors.[20] [21] [22] [23] Since 2017 a fifth team has been added[24] & five Chinese players were taken up by the five franchises in their squad,[25] although as of 2018[26] they are yet to be given any significant role or opportunity in the playing XI.

TeamCityHome groundCaptain
Kowloon CantonsKowloonMission Road GroundBabar Hayat
Hung Hom JD JaguarsHung HomMission Road GroundKinchit Shah
Galaxy Gladiators LantauLantauMission Road GroundKumar Sangakkara
HK Island UnitedHong Kong IslandMission Road Ground Tanwir Afzal
City KaiTakKai TakMission Road Ground

Tournament results

Hong Kong T20 Blitz season results
SeasonFinalFinal venueNumber of teamsPlayer of the series
WinnerWinning marginRunner-up
2016
Details
Hong Kong Island Warriors
and
Kowloon Cantons
declared
co-champions
Match abandonedNone/Joint WinnersMission Road Ground4Not awarded
2017
Details
Kowloon CantonsWon by 25 runsCity KaiTakMission Road Ground5 Chris Jordan
2018
Details
Hung Hom JD JaguarsWon by 6 runsGalaxy Gladiators LantauMission Road Ground5 Kumar Sangakkara

Format

The 2016 event took place on 29 and 30 May. The four teams played each other once in a round-robin format, followed by a finals day. All the matches were played at Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.

The 2017 event took place from 8 to 12 March. The five teams played each other once in a round-robin format, followed by a finals day. All the matches were played at the Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok.

Media coverage

Coverage of Hong Kong T20 Blitz 2016 was broadcast live on Hong Kong Cricket Association’s YouTube channel. Dean Jones, Jack Richards and Fox Sports’ Katherine Loughnan were hosts and also part of the commentary team.[27]

International broadcasters

TerritoryNetwork
United KingdomBT Sport
[28]
AustraliaFox Cricket
[29]
Arab worldOSN Sports
[30]
Asian Countries
Neo Sports
[31]
West IndiesESPN Caribbean
[32]
African CountriesStarTimes
[33]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/hong-kong-t20-blitz/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=687;type=trophy . ESPNcricinfo.
  2. Web site: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/hong-kong-t20-blitz/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=687;type=trophy . ESPNcricinfo.
  3. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz-teams-revealed/559/ Hong Kong T20 Blitz teams revealed
  4. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Franchises-up-for-sale-in-new-Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz-League/538/ Franchises up for sale in new Hong Kong T20 Blitz League
  5. Web site: Tim Cutler reveals impact of WT20 . 14 May 2016 . 6 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506202229/http://hkcricket.org/en/news/CEO-Tim-Cutler-reveals-impact-of-WT20/531/ . dead .
  6. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Hong-Kong-exit-ICC-World-Twenty20-with-future-in-mind/526/ Hong Kong exit ICC World Twenty20 with future in mind
  7. Clarke signs up for Hong Kong's domestic T20 league
  8. Results1st Match Feb 06, 2018 City Kaitak vs Hung Hom JaguarsCity Kaitak 132/6 (20 overs)Aizaz Khan 52(37)Waqas Barkat 30(22)*Ben Laughlin 2/19(4)

    Hung Hom Jaguars 138/4 (17.4 overs)Nizakat Khan 48 (38)Kinchit Shah 22 (26)Aizaz Khan 1/16 (1)

    Hung Hom Jaguars won by 6 wickets (14 balls remaining)Man of the Match: Ben LaughlinWarriors, Cantons joint winners of inaugural Blitz after rain washes out finals day

  9. Web site: BREAKING: Hong Kong T20 Blitz to be axed, Sixes also under threat . Emerging Cricket . 22 July 2019 . 22 July 2019.
  10. Web site: DTC Mobile sign as title sponsors for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 May 2016 . 25 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160925223322/http://hkcricket.org/en/news/DTC-Mobile-sign-as-title-sponsors-for-Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz/567/ . dead .
  11. Web site: Hong Kong T20 Blitz expected to attract overseas cricket talent . 14 April 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220905154415/https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1935977/hong-kong-t20-blitz-expected-attract-overseas-cricket-talent . 5 September 2022 . live .
  12. http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1939389/two-players-will-miss-out-draft-hong-kongs-first-twenty20-blitz Two players will miss out on draft for Hong Kong’s first Twenty20 Blitz tournament
  13. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Final-call-on-Bids-for-Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz/551/ Final call on Bids for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  14. Web site: Hong Kong Men's team receive major funding boost from HKSI after World T20 campaign . 14 May 2016 . 15 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160415233350/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/news/Hong-Kong-Mens-team-receive-major-funding-boost-from-HKSI-af/548/ . dead .
  15. Web site: Hong Kong T20 Blitz franchise bidding opens! . 14 May 2016 . 15 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160415232942/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/news/Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz-franchise-bidding-opens/547/ . dead .
  16. News: 2017-02-13 . Hong Kong T20 Blitz's growing popularity an indication of cricket making inroads in East Asia . Firstpost . . 2023-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329060739/https://www.firstpost.com/sports/hong-kong-t20-blitzs-growing-popularity-an-indication-of-cricket-making-inroads-in-east-asia-3280498.html . 2023-03-29 .
  17. http://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1936925/three-hong-kong-t20-blitz-franchises-taken-one-more-still-grabs Three Hong Kong T20 Blitz franchises taken, one more still up for grabs
  18. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Woodworm-take-over-Island-Warriors/583/ Woodworm take over Island Warriors
  19. Web site: Kowloon Cantons women hope to spark Hong Kong cricket revolution at T20 Blitz . 10 May 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220905154407/https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1943088/kowloon-cantons-women-hope-spark-hong-kong-cricket-revolution-t20-blitz . 5 September 2022 . live .
  20. http://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1939549/tanwir-afzal-babar-hayat-are-first-two-picks-hong-kong-t20-blitz-dtc-named Tanwir Afzal, Babar Hayat are first two picks for Hong Kong T20 Blitz – DTC named title sponsor
  21. Web site: Hong Kong T20 Blitz to feature top talent from Australia and India as teams release provisional squads . 13 May 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326161203/https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1944650/hong-kong-t20-blitz-feature-top-talent-australia-and-india-teams . 26 March 2023 . live .
  22. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/HKCA-to-welcome-Michael-Clarke-for-DTC-Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz/584/ HKCA to welcome Michael Clarke for DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  23. http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1939389/two-players-will-miss-out-draft-hong-kongs-first-twenty20-blitz Two players will miss out on draft for Hong Kong’s first Twenty20 Blitz tournament
  24. http://m.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2009420/raising-stakes-hong-kong-t20-blitz-adds-fifth-franchise Raising the stakes: Hong Kong T20 Blitz adds fifth franchise
  25. http://m.scmp.com/sport/article/2060216/hong-kong-t20-blitz-draft-five-chinese-cricketers-taken-franchises Hong Kong T20 Blitz draft: five Chinese cricketers taken up by franchises
  26. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/1125477.html HONG KONG TWENTY20 BLITZ 2018 Results
  27. http://hkcricket.org/en/news/Dean-Jones-to-headline-coverage-of-DTC-Hong-Kong-T20-Blitz/592/ Dean Jones to headline coverage of DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  28. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .
  29. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .
  30. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .
  31. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .
  32. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .
  33. Web site: TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz . 14 February 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012648/http://www.hkcricket.org/en/media/news/tv-broadcasters-confirmed-for-2018-hong-kong-t20-blitz . dead .