Cricket Set to Flourish in China with New Franchise League Launch
A New Era for Cricket in China
Dubai [UAE], November 12: Cricket in China has long aspired to reach a broader audience, and that opportunity may soon be at hand.
The World Championship of Cricket (WCC), in collaboration with Dongyuehui Sports, is gearing up to initiate a transformative franchise-based league for the sport in China.
For the first time, an elite Eight-team Legends T20 franchise league is set to debut, marking a pivotal moment in cricket's global outreach and creating exciting prospects for the sport in China. The inaugural season is slated for May 2027, featuring some of the most renowned former international players.
With the International Cricket Council (ICC) pinpointing new growth areas for cricket, the timing is particularly crucial. The sport's inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games adds further impetus, presenting China with a chance to enhance its cricketing landscape and contribute significantly to the sport's worldwide expansion.
This ambitious initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2026 between WCC and Dongyuehui Sports, which operates the Shaxi Town Cricket Centre in Taicang, Jiangsu Province. The agreement was signed by Praveen Sharma, Chairman of WCC, and Yonghui Tong, Chairman of Dongyuehui Sports.
In addition to hosting a premier international event, this initiative aims to broaden cricket's appeal by introducing it to new markets and audiences.
Praveen Sharma remarked, "Cricket has a unique power to unite people across different cultures and borders, and China represents one of the most promising opportunities for the sport's future. We are eager to gain support from local authorities and, through our partnership with Dongyuehui Sports, we are dedicated to providing a world-class cricket experience that can inspire the next generation of players and fans. This agreement is a significant step towards realizing that vision."
Amandeep Singh, Founder of WCC, added, "Bringing WCC to China has been a long-held ambition. Today's agreement brings us closer to that goal. We aim to provide fans with the chance to see celebrated cricketers in action and introduce new audiences to the thrill of the game. We are excited to collaborate with our partners in Taicang to make the inaugural season truly special."
WCC is backed by the owners of the World Tennis League (WTL), Stars Golf League (SGL), and World Padel League (WPL), who bring extensive experience in managing international franchise sporting events.
With the local expertise and infrastructure provided by Dongyuehui Sports, the league is anticipated to bring top-tier cricket closer to China's expanding sports audience, while also boosting interest and participation in the game.
Yonghui Tong stated, "Our vision is to make China a hub for major international sporting events and to establish the Shaxi Town Cricket Centre as the premier venue for cricket in the country. Partnering with WCC enables us to introduce some of the biggest names in cricket to Chinese fans, inspire greater involvement in the sport, and create a lasting legacy for cricket's development in China."
For China's budding cricketers, this league could offer a rare chance to learn from some of the sport's most accomplished players, many of whom have competed at the highest levels, including the ICC Cricket World Cup. While these legends have played globally, the WCC Legends League will be their first experience competing in China.
As a franchise-based league, WCC also opens doors for private investors and investment funds to engage in cricket's growth in China through franchise ownership, strategic partnerships, and commercial investments in one of the world's largest consumer markets.
China appears poised to embark on a new chapter in its sporting journey, one that could bring cricket closer to its goal of becoming a truly global game.