The Mongols took their Khiriqet seriously and erected elaborate stands from where to watch the proceedings.

At the height of their power, the Mongol Empire covered 36 million square kilometres including most of Asia. They brought with them many new customs and their approach to warfare was brutal. Their savagery towards their adversaries during their campaigns into China was especially barbaric and in many cases they even made sport of the suffering.

The Mongols played a game called Khiriqet, believed by many historians to be the earliest form of cricket (and origin of the name). One player tossed a severed head of a vanquished foe in the direction of two enemy prisoners, who attempted to bat the head out of the Mongol encampment using heavy axes. Both "batsmen" would swing wildly at the head, often killing each other in their attempts. However, if a batsman succeeded, he was allowed to live but if no-one was successful and both batsman survived, then the "bowler" would point at the batsman who had made the least impressive effort, who would immediately be castrated. The surviving unsuccessful batsman was then allowed a drink of wine followed by castration.

More rules were added in time, but the basic premise remained. The end result was always the slaughter of enemy prisoners.