The China national cricket team represents China in international cricket. The team is organised by the Chinese Cricket Association, which became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2004 and an associate member in 2017. China did not make its debut in international cricket until the 2009 ACC Trophy Challenge,Other matches played by China – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2015. although the Shanghai Cricket Club had previously acted as a de facto national side, from 1866 playing Interport matches against international teams.Other matches played by Shanghai – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2015. China has since participated in several other Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments, as well as at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games cricket events. Hong Kong (a Special Administrative Region of China) and Taiwan (claimed as China's 23rd province) both field separate teams in international cricket.
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between China and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will have the full T20I status.
History Between 1858 and 1948, the Shanghai Cricket Club, the largest club in the country, played games against many touring sides, but it was not recognised as an official national team.
Since September 2005, the Chinese Cricket Association has conducted eight coaching/umpiring training courses with assistance from the Asian Cricket Council. The sport is now played in nine cities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Dalian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Tianjin and Jinan. More than 150 schools have been involved.
China took part in the 2009 ACC Trophy Challenge, their first appearance in a representative tournament. The Chinese lost all of their group matches, including against Iran and the Maldives where they lost by 307 and 315 runs respectively. In the seventh-place playoff, China recorded their first-ever international win when they beat Myanmar by 118 runs.
China took part in the 2014 ACC Twenty20 Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The team lost their first game against Afghanistan by 9 wickets after being bowled out for just 37. China lost all five of their group games by wide margins, including a record low total and record margin of defeat in a representative Twenty20 match when they lost to the United Arab Emirates by 209 runs after conceding 236 runs during the UAE's innings and then in reply were bowled out for 27 runs, with 15 of those runs coming in extras. They lost to Bahrain in the eleventh place playoff, thus finishing the tournament in twelfth and last place.
China participated in the 2010 Asian Games where, as host, it played against Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
China played their first T20I on 26 July 2023, against Malaysia, during the 2023 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier.
In the same tournament, China defeated Myanmar in their last match to register their first-ever win in T20Is.
Grounds
Current squad As of 2 June 2026 Name Age Batting style Bowling style Notes Batters Du Jianhao Left-handed Right-arm medium Zhao Zhilong Left-handed Right-arm medium Zhuang Zelin Right-handed Right-arm off break Yang Wangjie Right-handed Right-arm off break Shenjian Zheng Right-handed All-rounders Chen Zhuo Yue Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Zong Yuechao Left-handed Left-arm medium fast Deng Jinqi Right-handed Right-arm off break Wicketkeeper Du Jianyao Right-handed Meng Jianhao Right-handed Spin Bowlers Luo Shilin Right-handed Right-arm leg spin Pace Bowlers Tian Sen Qun Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast Captain Ma Qiancheng Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast Qi Shuai Right-handed Right-arm medium
Tournament history ACC Challenger Cup ACC Men's Challenger Cup recordHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2023Did not participate 20249th place play-off9th31200Total2/20 Titles31200 TwentyT20 East Asia Cup Twenty20 East Asia Cup recordHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2016Round-robin4th41300 2018Round-robin3rd31200 2024Round-robin3rd30300Total3/30 Titles102800
ACC Eastern Region T20 ACC Eastern Region T20 record Host/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2018Round-robin4th40301 2020Did not participate Total0/00 Titles40301
ACC Trophy Challenge ACC Trophy Challenge record Host/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 20097th place play-off7th41300 20105th place play-off6th41300 20126th place play-off6th42200Total3/90 Titles124800
ACC Twenty20 Cup ACC Twenty20 CupHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2007Did not qualify 2009Group stages12th50500 2011Did not qualify 2013Did not qualify 2015Did not qualify Total1/50 Titles50500
Asian Games Asian Games records Host/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2010Quarter-final5th20200 2014Group stages 9th20200 2018Did not include Cricket 2022Did not participate 2026To be determined Total2/30 Titles40400
Records International Match Summary
Last updated 2 June 2026 Playing Record Format M W L T NR Inaugural Match Twenty20 Internationals 13 2 11 0 0 26 July 2023
Twenty20 International Highest team total: 129/4 v. Myanmar on 30 January 2024 at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok. Highest individual score: 70, Wei Guo Lei v. Myanmar on 30 January 2024 at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok. Best individual bowling figures: 5/9, Ma Qiancheng v. Myanmar on 30 January 2024 at Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok.
T20I record versus other nations
Records complete to T20I #3925. Last updated 2 June 2026. Opponent M W L T NR First match First win vs Associate Members 1 0 1 0 0 30 July 2023 1 0 1 0 0 28 January 2024 2 0 2 0 0 14 February 2024 2 0 2 0 0 15 February 2024 2 0 2 0 0 26 July 2023 3 2 1 0 0 31 July 2023 31 July 2023 1 0 1 0 0 31 May 2026 1 0 1 0 0 27 July 2023
See also List of China Twenty20 International cricketers
References