HK official hopeful over million-dollar chief

Hong Kong's top cricket official is hoping to push through ambitious plans to hire a one million HK dollar (128,000 US) chief executive, he said on Thursday.

Several Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) board members have called for the plan, aimed at creating a more professional organisation, to be put on hold until the economic crisis blows over.

But chairman Darren Tucker was hopeful he could get the appointment approved at HKCA's monthly meeting later on Thursday.

"There has been a concern with the economy and that will be a valid point for discussion," Tucker told AFP.

"However, there is an overriding belief that we have to take a tough path to achieve goals," he said.

HKCA's main event is its ICC-sanctioned Sixes tournament, which has attracted a steady flow of star players including ICC World Player of the Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul at its latest edition.

However the event in November reportedly finished in the red after organisers failed to find a backer.

Thursday's South China Morning Post said the board was split over the move to splash out on a new CEO.

"This idea should be put on hold," an unnamed source was quoted as saying, adding "almost half" the board opposed the plan.

"The timing of this proposal is our concern," he said.

"We are not saying Hong Kong cricket shouldn't have a CEO, all we are saying is that we should get one when the economic conditions are better."

Applications for the new role, which was announced two weeks ago, have to be in by Friday. Tucker said he could not say if any candidates had yet applied for the job.