Athletes from China and Bangladesh compete during a match. [Photo/WeChat account: hzsports]

The China-Bangladesh Cricket Friendship Tournament opened on Dec 17 at the cricket stadium of the Pingfeng Campus of Zhejiang University of Technology in Hangzhou.

The event is part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and aims to deepen people-to-people and sports exchanges.

Players from both sides delivered a fast-paced contest that demonstrated their skills in bowling, fielding, and batting. After three hours of competition, the Chinese team was defeated 92-73.

Bangladesh team captain Sadia Islam praised the experience, saying Hangzhou is a beautiful city and the professional venue added to both the enjoyment of the match and the sense of friendship between the two teams.

Chinese team captain Zhu Mingyue said competing against a cricket powerhouse like Bangladesh was a valuable learning opportunity, helping the team gain insights into advanced techniques and tactics. With cricket set to return to the Olympic program at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, she noted that such high-level exchanges are crucial for the sport's development in China.

The tournament was held at a former Hangzhou Asian Games venue, which now also serves as a national team training base.

A Chinese athlete competes during a match. [Photo/WeChat account: hzsports]