Pic of cricket stadium in China for Asian Games goes viral, fans react

The Asian Games 2023 is underway in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China. The tournament will also feature a cricket event for both men and women contested in the T20 format. Ahead of the event, the images of the cricket stadium in Hangzhou have gone viral all over social media and have attracted several reactions from fans. Notably, all the cricket matches during the event will take place in Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field, Hangzhou.

The women’s cricket event is already underway from September 19 onwards and the Indian women's team has qualified for the semi-final of the tournament. The Smriti Mandhana-led side faced Malaysia in the first Quarter final on Thursday, September 21. Malaysia captain Winifred Duraisingam won the toss and invited India to bat first.

The Women-in-Blue accepted the invitation happily as openers Mandhana (27 off 16) and Shafali Verma (67 off 39) added 57 runs for the first wicket in 5.2 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues (47 off 29) and Richa Ghosh (21 off 7) played brilliant innings in the middle order to propel India’s total to 173/2 in 15 overs.

However, the game couldn’t be completed as the rain interrupted play after just two balls in the second innings. However, despite the game being abandoned, India qualified for the semi finals due to their higher T20I rankings than Malaysia. Notably, India are ranked fourth in the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings while Malaysia are ranked 26^th.

Pakistan also qualified for the semi final

The second quarter-final of the event between Indonesia and Pakistan also met the same fate as the match got abandoned without a ball being bowled. As a result, Pakistan (7^th) also qualified for the semi-final due to their higher T20I ranking than Indonesia (21^st).

India will next play the first semi-final of the tournament on Sunday, September 24 while Pakistan will play the second semi-final on the same date.

Meanwhile, the dimensions of the ground haven’t gone down well with the fans who are claiming the matches will be a run-fest due to the short boundaries of the venue. Here are some of the reactions:

What is the length of Boundary?

— The CrickFun (@TheCrickFun) September 21, 2023

Rinku singh will smash lot of sixes in this ground...

— Ranit Sarkar (@iam_ranit) September 21, 2023

My son could hit a six on that. He's not 2 yet.

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) September 21, 2023

Rain of 6s and records are loading 🔥🔥🥵

— 🇷 🇦 🇭 🇺 🇱 𒆜ç𝒉ο𝒑𝒓𝐚𒆜 (@i_am_juari) September 21, 2023

Where is this Ground? Looks like a college ground. 😐

— Jubil John (@JUBILJOHN) September 21, 2023

Our Own ground is better than this

— Mintu Dutta (@MNGamin65372627) September 21, 2023

Rinku Singh will destroy them with sixes 😂

— श्री ड्यूड सिंह (@ShriDudeSingh) September 21, 2023

30 yards circle is there, where is the remaining ground?

— VVV (@VijayVinceVahid) September 21, 2023