Peshawar Zalmi to include two Chinese players in squad

[Shahzaz ud din]

Peshawar Zalmi to include two Chinese players in squad
Abdul GhaffarOctober 20, 2017
833

Peshawar Zalmi officials pose with Chinese players and officials of China's national cricket team.—Photo courtesy Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar Zalmi has decided to include two Chinese cricketers in its squad to promote cricket in China, a press release by Peshawar Zalmi said on Friday.

The cricketers, Jian Li and Yufie Zhang, will be a part of the Zalmi squad for the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to begin in February 2018.

"Peshawar Zalmi is not only pleased to assist in top notch coaching and mentoring of cricketers in China, but also providing them a platform to recognise their talent and motivate them to achieve international recognition," said Zalmi's owner Javed Afridi at an event at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.

Muhammad Akram, the director of cricketing affairs for Peshawar Zalmi, said that the team's coaching staff will travel to China for a seminar to kick off collaboration with the Chinese board and hold coaching programs subsequently to identify and groom young Chinese talent.


He also revealed that a China Zalmi team will participate in tournaments organised by the franchise under its "Global Zalmi" initiative with representation from 25 clubs from across the globe.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang was also present in the ceremony.

 

[Big Tank]

Shameful. This is what left to see. Chinese who have no Cricket experience are going to play into the team.

 

[American Pakistani]

Awesome. With the help of Pakistan, cricket can get popular in China.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Shameful. This is what left to see. Chinese who have no Cricket experience are going to play into the team.

China has a Cricket team.

I see this as more of a marketing scheme. With thousands of Chinese migrating to Pakistan, thanks to CPEC, what better way to distinguish yourself from the other teams than by playing some familiar "faces"?

This experience the Chinese players will have will transfer to the Chinese National Team for their international games. And will help generate a Cricket base in China also because these Chinese-Pakistanis will travel back and forth to China.

 

[logixlord]

China has had a cricket team for a while (a weak one, but an indigenous one nonetheless). The ICC, quite right fully gave special attention to them because they make up, well, 25% of the humans on the planet. Their women cricket team is actually not that bad at Asia level, I think they reached Semi Finals of an Asia Cup once.

In the past Bangladeshi Cricketer Aminul Islam was helping them out, and so was Ramesh Ratnayke from Srilanka. Miandad also went once to give coaching to the Chinese men and women teams.

I agree that this is a marketing scheme. Peshawar Zalmi is a business franchise, and they might be able to make some inroads into the Chinese market with this. But I don't see anything wrong with it. The Australian franchises have been picking up players from Papua New Guinea. It is usually to help a neighbor develop the talent, and also it is seen as a goodwill gesture towards the community at large.

What would really work out well for Zalmi is if one of the Chinese players actually plays in a game and performs well. That will steal the newsreel in the cricket world irrespective of how Zalmi performed on that day Great for brand recognition.

 

[My-Analogous]

Peshawar Zalmi to include two Chinese players in squad
Abdul GhaffarOctober 20, 2017
833

Peshawar Zalmi officials pose with Chinese players and officials of China's national cricket team.—Photo courtesy Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar Zalmi has decided to include two Chinese cricketers in its squad to promote cricket in China, a press release by Peshawar Zalmi said on Friday.

The cricketers, Jian Li and Yufie Zhang, will be a part of the Zalmi squad for the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to begin in February 2018.

"Peshawar Zalmi is not only pleased to assist in top notch coaching and mentoring of cricketers in China, but also providing them a platform to recognise their talent and motivate them to achieve international recognition," said Zalmi's owner Javed Afridi at an event at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.

Muhammad Akram, the director of cricketing affairs for Peshawar Zalmi, said that the team's coaching staff will travel to China for a seminar to kick off collaboration with the Chinese board and hold coaching programs subsequently to identify and groom young Chinese talent.


He also revealed that a China Zalmi team will participate in tournaments organised by the franchise under its "Global Zalmi" initiative with representation from 25 clubs from across the globe.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang was also present in the ceremony.

Good, after Srilanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, now we are supporting our iron brother to enter into this game. Keep the good work going Pakistan. Pakistan is true leader to promote cricket

 

[logixlord]

Pakistan is true leader to promote cricket

Pakistan also lost to Ireland in 2007 World Cup, which really jumpstarted Cricket Craze in Ireland
Today they are a Test team.

 

[My-Analogous]

Pakistan also lost to Ireland in 2007 World Cup, which really jumpstarted Cricket Craze in Ireland
Today they are a Test team.

let me add that too

 

[The Diplomat]

Shameful. This is what left to see. Chinese who have no Cricket experience are going to play into the team.

What's shameful? Buddy it's globalization, get with the game or get left behind.

 

[Well.wisher]

Bechaaron se pagri nhi sanbhaali ja rahii

Kisaaan lag ree londay..

Sub se left wale ki haalat pe tars aa rahaaa..

 

[SoulSpokesman]

Good move. Could be a huge commercial success.

Regards

 

[Sugarcane]

Pakistan also lost to Ireland in 2007 World Cup, which really jumpstarted Cricket Craze in Ireland
Today they are a Test team.

We will do same with China as well to make them addicted to cricket.

 

[atya]

The number of Chinese that might be intrigued to watch PZ play in the PSL because of these 2 players. Great initiative to spread interest in the game. China is a huge market!!