China given $400,000 development fund

SINGAPORE, Sep 20 (Reuters) China's cricket association has been given 400,000 dollars to accelerate cricket's growth in the country, Asian Cricket Council chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq said today.

Of the sum, 200,000 dollars comes from the Asian Cricket Council and is matched by 200,000 dollars from the International Cricket Council.

''This represents an opportunity for everyone involved with cricket in China,'' ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

''There's been a very good start in China. This is a 10-year project and no one should be under any illusion that results will appear overnight.

''Cricket in China is still very new and this funding from our two bodies is directed at strengthening the development structure for cricket as established by the state sporting administration.'' Reuters PM DB0917