China gearing up to make mark in next T20 world cup

Sydney: China is hoping to have a cricket team ready to make it to the 20/20 World Cup, with the government stating that helping players to qualify for the 2019 World (50-over) Cup is a “priority”.

The three cricketers from the People’s Republic of China, Fast bowler Zhang Peng, teenage off-spinner “William” Wang and wicketkeeper “Jason” Zhao, who spent the past two months learning the Aussie approach, said Beijing was already making its best efforts in improving the national cricket team.

Their dinkum Aussie mate Brian Freedman said their enthusiasm bowled everyone over, adding that China would one day field a competitive team.

“They’re preparing for a tournament in Malaysia so they are getting exposure. They play 50-over games and T20, but I’m sure they won’t play five-day games in my lifetime,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Freedman, as saying.

According to Zhang, who was 22 when he took up cricket after his university basketball coach suggested he consider becoming his nation’s answer to paceman Brett Lee, the Georges River club instilled invaluable lessons, the paper said.

“I have learned to control [the] ball better,” he said. “The cricket [was] much harder than China. The people at Georges River very friendly,” he said. (ANI)