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.
