China's captain Liu Wei expressed cautious optimism about the appearance Yao Ming in the Asian Basketball Championships this September.

"Nothing is certain right now," Liu, a former team mate of Yao's at the Shanghai Sharks, told the China Daily.

"He will stay in Shanghai for a while and then go back to the States for an injury check. Nobody knows if he will be able to play until the results come out."

The September 15-25 tournament guarantees the winners a spot at next year's London Olympics.