ACC approves projects to promote cricket in China

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Cricket Council has reportedly approved special development projects to promote cricket in China.

"The ACC development committee meeting has approved a budget of 5.6 million dollars for the next fiscal year and we have special development programmes for China, where the interest is growing fast," ACC chief executive Ashraful Huq said.

During its development committee meeting here, the ACC chalked out a development plan for the next five years with special emphasis on China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.

International Cricket Council Chief Executive Malcolm Speed visited China earlier this year and was impressed with the interest in the game there.

Huq said the ACC had also requested special funds from the ICC for China.

"The ICC has also promised help for China and we have also requested for special funds from the ICC. China's school team of under 15 years of age will be among eight teams participating in a school event in Thailand next month," said Huq, a former secretary of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Already, 200,000 dollars has been provided by the ACC, a sum which would be matched by a further 200,000 dollars from the ICC, Huq said.

An under-15s competition among schools was held in Beijing in July this year while the first inter-university competition was also held there last month.