Kai Tak's lack of cricket ground is missed opportunity, governing body's ex-CEO says
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Tim Cutler said he had pushed during his two years as Cricket Hong Kong chief executive for the secondary stadium at Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) – now known as the youth sports ground – to be configured for cricket.
Melbourne Cricket Club was among the sub-consultants employed during KTSP's planning stage. Ultimately, however, an athletics track was installed at the 5,000-seat venue, which can also stage football and rugby.
'There are so many facilities with running tracks nearby, but Hong Kong has no world-class cricket ground to host major events,' said Cutler, who could not bring himself to visit the smaller venue when he attended March's Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium.
'All the early designs had cricket in the sports ground. It's 150 metres [in diameter], which is exactly what you need for top-level cricket. It's hugely frustrating.'
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara during his second Hong Kong T20 Blitz appearance in 2018. Photo: Phoebe Leung
Now CEO of the Vanuatu Cricket Association, Cutler pointed to Rwanda's 10,000-capacity Gahanga Cricket Stadium, which opened in 2017 and has already hosted more T20Is than any other African venue.
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