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The Chinese have recruited a former Pakistan Test player as coach for 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.^[1] Rashid Khan, who has been coaching China’s junior and women’s teams since 2006, has now been appointed as a coach for the games.

Cricket would be played for the first time in 2010 Asian Games. The decision to approve a proposal to include cricket was taken at the Olympic Council of Asia’s General Assembly in Kuwait on 17th April 2007.

The Chinese Cricket Association sought help from the Asian Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board to provide them with coaching expertise.

The Asian cricket powerhouses, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been the driving force behind the inclusion of this game in the tournament. Cricket is a religion among the millions of fans in the subcontinent. It has been also reported that less-experienced teams such as Hong Kong would be invited to participate in the inaugural tournament. This decision would also boost the Chinese Cricket Association which has boldly stated its ambition of becoming a force in One Day Cricket by 2019.

The chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council, Syed Ashraful Huq, has been optimistic about the prospects of cricket being included in the Olympic Games.

“China’s standing as the world’s leading sporting nation can play a major role in influencing future Olympic rosters. A major nation like China playing the game could help it qualify as a truly global sport.”