Chinese coach ready for Twenty20 challenge

China coach Rashid Khan believes that the ACC Twenty20 Cup is an important step for the growth of cricket in China.

It will face a number of tough tests, in the event that begins on 22 November, including a tricky opening fixture against Afghanistan.

To read a full interview with the ICC website see below:

What preparations have you made for this event?

For this event we have had a long training camp in different places in China. The boys have worked very hard during this training camp and hopefully there will be positives that emerge from the tournament. This training camp is the first of many in order to prepare for Asian Games.

What has been the most memorable performance to date by a Chinese player?

Li Jian is a key player and he improved a lot in recent ACC tournaments. He is a bowler and was the No. 11 batsman but in 2009 January, he became the opening batsman in the senior team and he scored nearly 50 runs in one match. This is the most impressive match I've seen him play in.

How long do you think it will be before China can compete at the highest level?

ACC and the Chinese Cricket Association are constantly working hard to bring China cricket to the highest level in the world. CCA attached much importance on the junior development as the current U-16s and U19s will be the backbone for China's future to compete at the highest level.

How has the profile of cricket in China changed in recent years?

Cricket was introduced to China in 2005 by the ACC. Back then there weren't many people who knew about cricket except those very few who had gone overseas to study or work. Nowadays, we have around 100 active coaches and umpires, 3000 regular players and more than 20,000 Chinese people are aware of the game and have tried their hand at cricket.

What are your chances of success in the ACC Twenty20 Cup?

This is not a debut for most players but it is the first time for China to play at this high a level. We are facing many elite associations and we will approach the challenges as best we can.

Who are your key players for the tournament?

The key players in my team are Bigman (Zhang Yufei), Li Jian, Wang lei, and Jiang Shuyao.