The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, which gets under way with a series of blockbuster fixtures on Friday, has received an eleventh-hour boost – by being awarded “M” Mark status by the city’s Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC).

Local cricket chiefs applied for government support in early April. After a protracted process, they learned on the eve of the Sixes’ return from a seven-year absence that the MSEC had signed off on backing worth up to HK$15 million (US$1.93 million) in matching funds.

Hong Kong face South Africa in the opening match of the three-day tournament at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Friday morning. Other first-day highlights include clashes between India and Pakistan, and Australia and England, who confirmed this week that former Test and white-ball international all-rounder Ravi Bopara would captain their team in Hong Kong.

Ravi Nagdev, the general manager of Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHKC), said MSEC officials recognised the Sixes’ “strong reach” meant “the eyes of the world would be on Hong Kong” throughout the tournament.

CHKC’s broadcasting partnership with Star Sports is expected to generate a global television audience of around 380 million over the three days.

Nagdev said CHKC had been ambitious in staging a larger-scale Sixes, which will feature 12 teams for only its second edition in 12 years. The 2017 tournament, which was won for a record-equalling fifth time by South Africa, marked the Sixes’ return after five years away.