China is emerging as a major target for the International Cricket Council (ICC) as it seeks to expand cricket beyond traditional markets.
The governing body aims to add 500 million fans to cricket’s global audience. China’s population of 1.4 billion offers significant potential for that expansion.
ICC Sees Huge Potential in China
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said China’s women’s team has helped raise the sport’s profile.
“The continued success of their women’s team has provided a major boost to cricket in the country,” Gupta told AFP.
China became a focus market after hosting cricket at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Its women’s team has also climbed 10 places in the global rankings over two years.
However, China still has considerable room for improvement. Its women’s T20 team ranks 36th, while the men’s team sits at 92nd.
The women also exited the Asian Games after their quarter-final against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Heavy rain left the outfield unplayable.
ICC Invests in China’s Cricket Growth
The ICC has invested $1.5 million in China over the past five years to develop the sport.
China now has three top-level cricket venues. These include a new 1,500-seat stadium in Taicang, which is expected to host domestic and international matches.
The ICC has also started testing Chinese audiences’ interest in cricket. Some women’s T20 World Cup matches received Mandarin broadcasts.
Meanwhile, the final week of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup generated 4.4 million video views in China.
Indonesia Also Offers Growth Potential
China is not the only emerging market on the ICC’s radar.
Indonesia, with around 280 million people, also offers significant room for cricket’s expansion. Its men’s T20 team ranks 63rd, while its women’s team ranks 23rd.
“If even segments of the population in China and Indonesia start engaging with the sport, then they could power the next leap in the scale of cricket’s fandom,” Gupta said.
He added that both countries could contribute to the ICC’s goal of adding 500 million fans worldwide.
Unlike some newer cricket nations, China’s teams largely consist of homegrown players rather than players from South Asian communities.
Olympics Could Boost Cricket’s Global Reach
The ICC also expects cricket’s return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to create another opportunity for global growth.
Men’s and women’s T20 cricket will feature at the Games, marking the sport’s return to the Olympics after its previous appearance in 1900.
The ICC’s expansion strategy has already produced results in other non-traditional markets.
Italy made its Men’s T20 World Cup debut in 2026. The team defeated Nepal and also pushed England in the tournament.
MCC Plans Women’s Tour of China
The ICC’s China strategy also has support from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which oversees the Laws of Cricket.
MCC plans to send a women’s team to China for an overseas tour in 2027.
“MCC is very pleased to be sending a women’s team for an overseas tour of China in 2027,” MCC director of cricket and operations Rob Lynch said.
“We see this tour as a huge opportunity to be able to grow the game in China,” he added.
The planned tour could give Chinese players greater exposure while helping the ICC assess the country’s potential as a future cricket market.
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