BEIJING, Sept 22: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Shaharyar M Khan said here on Friday that PCB will provide coaching and other facilities to the cricketers in China for promotion of the game.
“Chinese are committed people and they are fast learning the game. I saw great enthusiasm here but what lacks is the culture of the game,” the Shaharyar told mediamen.
The PCB chairman is here with a delegation of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to look into the set-up of Chinese cricket and its infrastructure. He is accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of International Cricket Council Malcom Speed and its Manager Development.
Speaking on the occasion, Shaharyar said Pakistan would send former Test cricketer Rashid Khan to coach the under-15 team in China which is now an affiliated member of ACC. China will also appear in the ACC Championship schedule to be held in Thailand in December.
The Chairman PCB said that besides coaching, Pakistan would also help Chinese in other fields including development of playing facilities, nets and inculcating the culture of the cricket.
He said that there was a need to develop infrastructure including playing facilities, provision of equipment, and high quality coaches.
To promote the game, he said, that in Shanghai cricket will now be played at under-15 and under-17 levels in schools, colleges and also at university levels.
At present there are six cricket clubs in China and the number is likely to be doubled during the current year.
To a question, the PCB chief said that the ACC officials also discussed bringing the Twenty20 competitions to the Olympic fold or at least at the Asian Games and the committee would submit its report on this in its next meeting.—APP