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]

Hong Kong T20 Blitz
香港快閃板球賽 (Chinese)
Hong Kong T20 Blitz Logo
CountriesHong Kong Hong Kong
AdministratorCricket Hong Kong
FormatTwenty20
First edition2016
Latest edition2018
Tournament formatRound-robin and finals
Number of teams5
Current championKowloon Cantons (2nd title)
Current trophy holderHung Hom JD Jaguars (1st title)
Most successfulKowloon Cantons (2nd title)
Most runsCricket West IndiesDwayne Smith (259) [1]
Most wicketsPakistanSaeed Ajmal (11) [2]
TVList of broadcasters
WebsiteHong Kong T20 Blitz

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.

Team City Home ground Captain
Kowloon Cantons Kowloon Mission Road Ground Hong KongBabar Hayat
Hung Hom JD Jaguars Hung Hom Mission Road Ground Hong KongKinchit Shah
Galaxy Gladiators Lantau Lantau Mission Road Ground Sri LankaKumar Sangakkara
HK Island United Hong Kong Island Mission Road Ground Hong Kong Tanwir Afzal
City KaiTak Kai Tak Mission Road Ground Trinidad and TobagoRayad Emrit

Tournament results
Hong Kong T20 Blitz season results
Season Final Final venue Number of teams Player of the series
Winner Winning margin Runner-up
2016
Details		 Hong Kong Island Warriors
and
Kowloon Cantons
declared
co-champions		 Match abandoned None/Joint Winners Mission Road Ground 4 Not awarded
2017
Details		 Kowloon Cantons Won by 25 runs City KaiTak Mission Road Ground 5 England Chris Jordan
2018
Details		 Hung Hom JD Jaguars Won by 6 runs Galaxy Gladiators Lantau Mission Road Ground 5 Sri Lanka 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
Territory Network
United Kingdom United Kingdom BT Sport
[28]
Australia Australia Fox Cricket
[29]
Arab League Arab world OSN Sports
[30]
Asian Countries
Neo Sports
[31]
Cricket West Indies West Indies ESPN Caribbean
[32]
African Countries StarTimes
[33]

References
  1. ESPNcricinfo http://stats.espncricinfo.com/hong-kong-t20-blitz/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=687;type=trophy. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ESPNcricinfo http://stats.espncricinfo.com/hong-kong-t20-blitz/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=687;type=trophy. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Hong Kong T20 Blitz teams revealed
  4. Franchises up for sale in new Hong Kong T20 Blitz League
  5. Tim Cutler reveals impact of WT20
  6. Hong Kong exit ICC World Twenty20 with future in mind
  7. [Clarke signs up for Hong Kong's domestic T20 league]
  8. Results 1st Match Feb 06, 2018 City Kaitak vs Hung Hom Jaguars City 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 Laughlin Warriors, Cantons joint winners of inaugural Blitz after rain washes out finals day
  9. "BREAKING: Hong Kong T20 Blitz to be axed, Sixes also under threat". Emerging Cricket. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  10. DTC Mobile sign as title sponsors for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  11. "Hong Kong T20 Blitz expected to attract overseas cricket talent". South China Morning Post. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022.
  12. Two players will miss out on draft for Hong Kong’s first Twenty20 Blitz tournament
  13. Final call on Bids for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  14. Hong Kong Men's team receive major funding boost from HKSI after World T20 campaign
  15. Hong Kong T20 Blitz franchise bidding opens!
  16. "Hong Kong T20 Blitz's growing popularity an indication of cricket making inroads in East Asia". Firstpost. Agence France-Presse. 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  17. Three Hong Kong T20 Blitz franchises taken, one more still up for grabs
  18. Woodworm take over Island Warriors
  19. "Kowloon Cantons women hope to spark Hong Kong cricket revolution at T20 Blitz". South China Morning Post. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022.
  20. Tanwir Afzal, Babar Hayat are first two picks for Hong Kong T20 Blitz – DTC named title sponsor
  21. "Hong Kong T20 Blitz to feature top talent from Australia and India as teams release provisional squads". South China Morning Post. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023.
  22. HKCA to welcome Michael Clarke for DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  23. Two players will miss out on draft for Hong Kong’s first Twenty20 Blitz tournament
  24. Raising the stakes: Hong Kong T20 Blitz adds fifth franchise
  25. Hong Kong T20 Blitz draft: five Chinese cricketers taken up by franchises
  26. HONG KONG TWENTY20 BLITZ 2018 Results
  27. Dean Jones to headline coverage of DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  28. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  29. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  30. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  31. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  32. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
  33. TV Broadcasters Confirmed for Hong Kong T20 Blitz
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