BEIJING, Feb 18: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is playing an important role in promoting the game of cricket in China as great enthusiasm is seen among both boys and girls to learn the game while a huge cricket stadium is under construction in Beijing.

This was stated by former Test cricketer and coach Rashid Khan here on Sunday who is coaching China’s budding players.

“The interest and enthusiasm among the Chinese youths can be gauged from the fact that within a month's training in November last year, the Chinese cricket team successfully competed in the ACC U-15 Challenge Cup held in Thailand from Dec 14 to 24 last year,” he said.

He said in their first appearance outside the country after initial coaching, the youths proved their mettle. Rashid said after coaching U-15 boys team, he was coaching the women’s team and was concentrating in the city of Shenzhen.

Rashid said the young cricketers were imparted training through soft-ball but now they have started playing with hard ball of cricket.

“I am sure with so much passion and interest among the Chinese youth, they will compete with the best in the next five to six years.” He disclosed that cricket is being played in 70 educational institutions who have their own teams.—APP