Ex-NBA duo Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang are back in China fold

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Chinese men's basketball national team head coach Li Nan has confirmed that former NBA players Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang are expected to play in China again, despite the duo's lengthy time on the sidelines this season.

Featuring 20 players, including four from newly-crowned CBA champions Guangdong Southeast Tigers, Li have revealed the Team China roster of players who are expected to attend the training camp for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, with Zhou and Ding's inclusion a major talking point.

Zhou, who was released by the Rockets last December after failing to establish himself in Houston, is still a free agent, while Ding, whose career at the Dallas Mavericks was cut short by a serious knee injury, has been recuperating in the U.S. for the past five months.

But Li insisted both Zhou and Ding are physically ready for the World Cup, which will take place in eight Chinese cities on August 31- September 15.

Chinese player Ding Yanyuhang, shown in this undated picture, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Dallas last year. /VCG Photo

"They [Zhou and Ding] will return on time. Both players didn't play in the CBA league, but they have individual training in the U.S. to keep their conditions ready for the call-up," said Li.

"They will come back by the end of May if everything goes well."

"Most of the players were either in the national teams last year or in the latest qualifiers for this year's World Cup. These players have proven their abilities and showed their willingness to play for the native country," Li added.

Meanwhile, Li has sung the praises of 20-year-old Tulane University student Zhang Zhenlin, who was called up to the national team for the first time with a stellar C.V. which saw him win the U.S. national title twice with La Lumiere High School.

"Zhang played in the U.S. in the past few years and his performance in the NCAA this season has impressed me a lot. He's a very talented player," Li beamed.

"I don't know much about him, but I want to give him a chance to show his abilities. This is the national team, and I'm not thinking only today."