Two players of Chinese National team to participate in coming edition of Pakistan Super League
The champions of Pakistan Super League season 2, Peshawar Zalmi roped in cricketers from China to the Peshawar Zalmi squad to take part in the 3rd edition of the Pakistan Super League to be held in 2018.
According to Peshawar Zalmi owner Javid Afridi, two players of China national cricket team players Jian Li and Yufie Zhang will go on to represent Peshawar Zalmi in the next edition PSL giving a boost to the fledgling sport in China.
In a brief talk at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the Chairman of the Zalmi franchise, Javed Afridi, said that China and Pakistan’s collaboration encompasses more than infrastructure, scientific research, industry and technology.
“The exchange of cultural values, as well as sport, is equally important in further reinforcing the bond between our two nations”, he said.
Javed Afridi further said Peshawar Zalmi are not only pleased to assist in top-notch coaching and mentoring of cricketers in China but also providing them with a platform to recognise their talent and motivate them to achieve international recognition.
He added Pakistani community is making efforts to promote cricket in China and observed that Chinese youth have a passion to learn this game.
Former Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Chun Xiang Zhang on the occasion expressed the confidence that this initiative would promote the sport of cricket in China.
Zalmi’s director of cricket affairs Mohammad Akram said they plans to invigorate cricket in China and a coaching team will travel to the country for a seminar to kick off the collaboration and hold coaching programs to identify and groom young Chinese talent.
Chairman Peshawar Zalmi Javed Afridi along with Chinese cricketers met former Pakistan’s cricket captain Imran Khan and he applauded Peshawar Zalmi’s efforts on Chinese players induction plus marked a major sports diplomacy.
In China, both men and women cricket teams are their but because of lack of experience and awareness about cricket none of them come upto the International level. Pakistani community in China, is promoting the game of cricket in Chinese youth.
The players have already been selected from the Chinese national team and a formal contract will be signed by the head of Peshawar Zalmi, Javed Afridi during his visit to Beijing next month. The Peshawar Zalmi coaching team will soon travel to China for a seminar and coaching programmes to identify and groom young Chinese talent.
Moreover, China Zalmi, will take part in tournaments organized by the Zalmi franchise under the initiative of Global Zalmi, a fan-based league of cricket enthusiasts with representative Zalmi clubs in over 25 countries around the world.