In a major boost to cricket in China, two players from the national team have been drafted to play in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), expected to be held predominantly in the UAE in early 2018.

The two countries share a broad strategic partnership and, therefore, it is hardly a surprise that such a move has been worked out.

According to a report by the official Pakistan news agency, APP, the two players from China will be part of the Peshawar Zalmi franchisee.

Zalmi are the defending champions of the PSL after winning the second edition of Pakistan’s Twenty20 extravaganza in Lahore in March.

The report goes on to say that the contracts for the two players will be signed by the head of the team, Javed  Afridi, during his visit to Beijing next month.

Cricket still remains grossly under-funded in China and as such the pace of development of the game has suffered extensively.

In April this year, the Chinese men’s team were bowled out for just 28 runs by Saudi Arabia in a World Cricket League regional qualifier held in Thailand. The Middle East nation won the match by a whopping 390 runs, highlighting the plight of the game in China.

However, a chance for the national team players to play in the PSL alongside international stars can only be a good thing and one hopes that it could kick-start a greater interest about the game back home in asia.