SAU International cricketers (L-R) Franklin Madhaure (Zimbabwe), Areeb Saldin (Sri Lanka) and Noor Mohammed Saleh (Bangladesh)

The SAU International side has, over the past eight years, played an important role in the development of cricket in China. Players from many of the Test-playing nations have challenged and encouraged Chinese cricketers to raise their game, becoming not only opponents but also mentors to young players from schools and universities. This time, the tables were turned on them as the Sports University side first put pressure on the international batsmen, limiting them to a modest 98 for six in their 20 overs, and then steadily building a platform from which they could win the match and the league. But the international side was not about to lie down and accept defeat and, as they ratcheted up the pressure in the closing stages, Sports University nearly buckled as they lost a flurry of wickets, before bravely hanging on to snatch the championship from their international rivals.

              (Post-match selfie: SAU Internationals share the moment with Shenyang’s No. 28 High School Team)

This year’s SAU International XI features players from Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, led in exemplary fashion by post-graduate student Junaid Siddiq from Pakistan. Throughout the tournament the side has played attacking and exciting cricket, despite many of the players enduring fatigue and dehydration as they observe Ramadan fasting.

                                 (Three SAU Cricket teams – middle row SAU Internationals)

With the support of the International Education College, which has provided equipment for the team, international players at the university have contributed greatly to the progress made by the SAU China men’s side, which finished just behind the internationals in third place, and the women’s side who came second in their competition.

SAU Cricket captains (L-R) Yang Yang, Junaid Siddiq, Gao Meng