ICC targets China and Indonesia to add 500 million cricket fans globally

The International Cricket Council is prioritising China as a strategic market to drive global cricket expansion. The governing body recognises that South Asia currently holds approximately 90 percent of cricket's billion-plus fan base, creating an opportunity to diversify and grow the sport's reach.

China has emerged as a focus market following its hosting of cricket at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and the measurable progress of its women's national team. Over the past two years, China's women's team has advanced 10 positions in the world rankings, demonstrating tangible competitive improvement.

"The continued success of their women's team has provided a major boost to cricket in the country," said ICC chief Sanjog Gupta as quoted by IOL.

"If even segments of the population in China and Indonesia start engaging with the sport, then they could power the next leap in the scale of cricket's fandom. It can play a significant role in the sport's ambition to add 500 million fans to its global fan base, which is the ICC chair's stated ambition," he added.

Broadcast reach has expanded significantly in recent years. Women's T20 World Cup matches have been shown in Mandarin, extending the sport's accessibility to Chinese audiences. During the final week of the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, China generated 4.4 million video views, indicating growing interest in men's cricket. China's men's and women's teams are composed primarily of homegrown players rather than athletes from South Asian communities, reflecting the sport's localisation within the country.

2028 Los Angles Games could provide more boost

The ICC believes cricket's return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games could provide another boost to the sport's global growth, with the men's and women's T20 tournaments set to award medals for the first time since cricket's lone Olympic appearance in 1900.

The ICC's efforts to expand cricket into new markets have also shown signs of progress. Italy offered a glimpse of the potential in a non-traditional cricketing nation when it made its men's T20 World Cup debut earlier this year, defeating Nepal and pushing England close.

The ICC's expansion plans have also received backing from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the Laws of Cricket.

"MCC is very pleased to be sending a women's team for an overseas tour of China in 2027. We see this tour as a huge opportunity to be able to grow the game in China," said MCC director of cricket and operations Rob Lynch.