LCMC Meeting – Spring 2013

1. LCMC Meeting – Spring 2013 Hong Kong Cricket Club February 19 2013

2. AGENDA • Confirmation of the Minutes of last meeting • Report from last Executive Committee Meeting • League Updates • Men’s cricket • Women’s cricket • Junior cricket • ResultsVault • MDC Updates • MDC Decisions: season to date • Bonus/Penalty Points • 2013-14 Season • Trial of new cricket balls • Ground availability • Proposed League changes • Other Business

3. EXCO Meeting on January 31 @ KCC • Confirmation of the preparation of a draft budget for HKCA • However – this budget (to be ratified at next EXCO) shows a worrying financial position • Savings being looked for with HKCA • Use of High Performance Monies / ICC / CC grants to be improved • Confirmation of the HK Cricket 6s being a financial success • Costs were dramatically reduced and a footprint for future viability found • Further revenue streams to be developed next year • The money the 6s delivers should be for “development” not “support of HKCA • Congratulations to the Women’s Team on their result at ACC tournament • Concerns over School development

4. League Updates • Men’s Cricket • Improvements made at PKVR? • Mission Road suitability remains a concern • HKU availability a significant concern going forward • Women’s Cricket • Women’s roadmap produced and circulated to EXCO • Fixture changes to support league during ACC tournament • Grounds not a concern going forward • Junior Cricket • Application for synthetic roll out surface to underpin Junior availability • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT2SSPUP4dc • Use of Results Vault • Frankly – its very poor • Penalty requirement? • Player Registration for 2013 • Cumbersome, time consuming and prone to error.

5. MDC Update • Connie Wong / Keenu Gill • MDC decision appealed • As a non-cricket matter was felt it should be heard as per their National Player Agreement • Suspension from all National Duty upheld to end of National Player Agreement – August 2013 • Returned to domestic cricket • Suspension of Babar Hyat • On field issue • Lenient decision by MDC - Level One offense * 2 applied to Premier League AND Sunday • Appealed by player / club • Decision upheld and as such penalty multiplied (4 game ban to include Sunday cricket) • Points penalties imposed for Player Registrations • Junior Cricket • Over age junior players and lack of adult supervision

6. 2013 -2014 Season • New Player Registration Process • Teams register their own players • Remove 3 game rule • Entered into Results Vault and invoiced by HKCA “pay as you play” • Reduce cost • Balls • Trial of Dukes balls (orange) in Saturday and Sunday Cup competitions • Better quality than Platypus / cheaper than Kookaburra

7. 2013 -2014 Season • Ground Concerns • OUR SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE • HKU to undergo significant up grade (all Astro facility as per PKVR) • Lost for majority of 2013/2014 season • Penny’s Hill, Lantau(Disney) • Hotel designated land • Joint proposal between HKCA and HK Polo Association • PernodRicard are backing the Polo Association (approx 70% of cost) • But only need the facility 1 month – October – per year • 6 year lease • Possibilility to commence work in May 2013 for October (and therefore next season – from November – for Cricket) • 2 FULL SIZED GROUNDS

8. 2013 -2014 Season • What if HKU goes AND / OR we don’t secure Penny’s Hill AND / OR cant further develop/ secure Police Training Ground? • WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PLAN FOR THIS NOW • There are some huge imbalances with the league in its current structure. Some players get to play 30+ games whilst others get a mere handful. This clearly needs to change. • Potential for Change to League Structure • 5 team Premier League playing 2 rounds of 50-over matches (20 matches) + 2 rounds ofT20 matches (20) = 16 games • 10 team Division One playing one round of 40-over matches (45) and 1 round of T20 matches (45) = 18 games • 10 team Division Two playing one round of 35-over matches (45) and 1 round of T20 matches (45) = 18 games • 10 team Division Three playing one round of 35-over matches (45) and 1 round of T20 matches (45) = 18 games • Moving from 50 to 40 overs on a Sunday will allow a T20 game first on that ground (8 am)

9. Further detail : - • All Premier League 50-over and Division 1 40-over matches will be played on Sundays. • All Division 2 & 3 (35-over matches) will be played on Saturdays and Public Holidays. • T20 matches will be played on Saturdays and Sundays and Public Holidays. • Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will have promotion and relegation (except league 1 no promotion and league 3 no relegation). • No premier league players allowed to play whatsoever in division 2 and 3 cricket. No restrictions on premier league players in division one. • Players can move between their 35 and 40 over teams within their club subject to a maximum of 3 players in anyone team from 40 over (Sunday) cricket. • Young cricketers (21 years and under) will be able to move teams freely within their club (increased from U17s)

10. The Benefits and the Negatives: - • The benefits of this league are as follows: • Works within our ground structure and has longevity if we do not gain more facilities. Allows more people, more cricket. • T20 cricket become widely played in Hong Kong would be good for the national team and, love it or hate it, it has become the most popular format globally. • Makes each league more balanced ability wise. Stops professionals playing in lower leagues. Allow the ambitious, structured teams to work their way up the leagues. • It ensures the best players are playing each other week in, week out. This is clearly a huge benefit to the national game which is the overriding driver for cricket in HK. • The negatives are: • We need to have 3 less teams in the leagues • 2 Day cricket is lost • 50 over cricket is lost to 40 over cricket for Sunday but still played at Premier League level (whilst this is clearly a negative as we play 50 over nationally - England reached world number 1 playing 40 over cricket domestically) • However, if HKU does come back on line as we hope, we will look to reintroduce 2 Day Premier League.

11. So – we have a choice going forward Option 1 • If HKU does not come back suitable for cricket we will have to either cull games for everyone or lose 4 teams just to stand still Option 2 • If HKU does come back we can continue with the season as is Option 3 • We adopt this new proposal