Cricket getting popular in China

Cricket getting popular in China was unthinkable some years back, but the game has managed to capture the attention of not only the Chinese but also people of Far Eastern countries due to its unpredictability and thrill, ‘The News’ has learnt.

Pakistan’s former test cricketer Rashid Khan is the coach of the Chinese national men’s and women’s teams.
He was appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to train young cricketers in China in 2006.
Rashid, who is in Karachi these days for Eid-ul-Fitar, says he expects China to be a paradise of cricket very soon.
It was in 2004 when the Chinese Cricket Association became an affiliated member of International Cricket Council.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is helping the Chinese Cricket Association (CCA) to establish cricket domestically.
China has achieved a lot of success in athletics, table tennis, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and martial arts.
Rashid says that a strong foundation of cricket has been laid and all the members of the Chinese team are local. “This is a good sign if we compare them with other emerging teams like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” he says.
He says the standard of cricket in China has improved a lot during the last five years. Even Chinese opening batsman Sang Yaun is currently playing league cricket in England, he revealed.
Besides, three boys and girls each are getting training in England.
He said Chinese women’s team played the semifinal of Asian Games, 2010, which showed that they have talent.
Rashid further says that PCB is playing an important role in the promotion of cricket in China.
Pakistan’s former skipper Javed Miandad has visited China twice as he was appointed Cricket Ambassador in China.
“It is a good sign that their standard of the game is getting batter,” Rashid said. “It is difficult to predict how much time they will take to show their skills at international level, but one thing is clear that there is passion for cricket in China as the game is spreading in 10 big cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Guangzhou and Lin Hai.”
Cricket teams have been established at schools, colleges and universities, as Chinese cricket administration is focusing at grassroots level.
More than 100 local coaches after participating in coaching courses by ACC are working for the promotion of the game and coaching local players.
The game is also getting popular in Far Eastern countries, including Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Korea as their national teams have been developed. 
Rashid said patience would be required to make the Chinese a competitive side. He is hopeful that in coming years the Chinese would be able to give tough time to other associate members.
The ICC has given importance to the promotion of cricket in China because of its huge population of almost 1.4 billion. China is at the forefront of ICC’s global development programme.