Local support sparks hope for cricket
Strong response raises expectations that sport will catch on in host nation
With the sound of leather on willow once again being promoted and appreciated in Hangzhou, cricket’s continental heavyweights are hoping that the return of the game to the Asiad will help capture the imagination of a wider audience.
Despite tricky batting conditions that took a toll on the quality of play, the women’s cricket final between India and Sri Lanka on Sept 25 did not disappoint the full house at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field, with the Chinese spectators quickly getting to grips with the fundamentals of the sport, which is hugely popular in South Asia.
Propelled by 46 runs from opening batter Smriti Mandhana and 42 from No 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, India set a total of 117 for Sri Lanka to chase after 20 overs, while teenage bowler Titas Sadhu took three wickets for just six runs to help India outscore its subcontinental rival by 19 runs to secure the Asiad’s first cricket gold in nine years.
As the undisputed top-ranked sport in countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, cricket had only featured on pervious Asian Games programs in 2010 and 2014, before being dropped from the 2018 Games in Jakarta.
Its return in Hangzhou, using the shortest T20 format, with each team facing 20 overs and the matches lasting around three hours, has presented a glimpse of its potential for Olympic inclusion — possibly at the 2032 Brisbane Games in Australia, where the game is also popular.
The Hangzhou crowd’s warm reception of the game, and its Olympic promise, have raised expectations that the Chinese will tap into the game sooner than expected.
“China is a country which could do a lot with cricket. We need to get China involved,” Rumesh Ratnayake,
coach of the Sri Lanka women’s team, said after the final.
“But awareness of the game is very important. If people can watch it more, and if the sporting hierarchy can introduce it ... and recognize the beauty of the game, it could become more popular here.”
With cricket remaining a niche sport in China, the impressive turnout at the Hangzhou tournament and the crowd’s quick understanding of its basics and rules have given the games an enjoyable vibe for cricketers at the newly built university field, who are used to sensational followings at home.
“It seemed that they were enjoying each and every moment, and I think it was really motivating for both teams to play (in front of the crowd),” Bangladesh team captain Nigar Sultana
said of the spectators’ reactions during her country’s 5-wicket win against Pakistan in the bronze-medal match on Sept 25.
“I think in China, people are actually showing that they are very supportive of cricket …”
The excitement generated during the fortnight at the Asiad is expected to last at the university, with the cricket ground to be kept as a permanent facility after the Games for students and amateur club members to use for training.
Pundits applauded the approach, while urging Chinese promoters and governing bodies to start introducing the shorter forms of the game among the youth.
“Obviously, you understand the Asiad is a 15-day competition. Cricket takes a lot of time. This is the shortest
format, and it still takes three and a half hours. And you need a full field,” said Rajib Dutta, the Indian team’s bowling coach.
“It is brilliant (to keep the field). I think in a few years we will see China playing cricket.”
Pakistan’s head coach Mohtashim Rasheed noted cricket needs more fans worldwide, and that China is a market that cannot be overlooked.
“It’s very exciting to see the crowds of Chinese coming to watch. That is a very healthy sign for developing cricket in China,” said Mohtashim.
“Now with the shorter version of cricket, it might be designed for those countries where the game is not yet established, so they will be more likely to get involved in it. It’s a good sign for the development of cricket here.”