The time, when China would rise as a cricketing nation is not far and increased investments to promote the game in the world’s most populous nation is safe and worthwhile, a senior Asian Cricket Council (ACC) official said.
“We have made big investment including money and technical support in developing cricket in China ,” ACC Chief Executive, Syed Ashraful Huq said.
“I am confident the investment will get paid. It is not a bad investment. It is not like going to the stock exchange and buying shares. It is a safe investment,” Huq said while attending the just-concluded national men’s cricket championship.
The Chinese Cricket Association (CCA), which joined the ACC after the former was established in 2004, has been developing the sport in China in recent years by laying a foundation of professionally trained players, coaches and umpires.
Huq, who has visited China twice each year since 2002, is impressed by the sport’s progress among young people and believes China will jump to a mid-level standard in Asia within two years.
“I saw the same boys playing last year and what they are playing now is very very different. In about two years time, they will come up to a level of, say, if not India, Pakistan, maybe other countries like Malaysia and Singapore.”