In China children actually keep crickets as pets!

But crickets are involved in much more like in a Chinese pastime called “Cricket Fighting” where male crickets fight just like in cockfighting, and bullfighting. 
Cricket fighting started more way back 1,000 years ago! Cricket fights are held at famous hotels throughout China, and although it is illegal to bet on the fights, the fights themselves are not illegal.

In India, crickets are as praised as a cows are, and funerals are held when a cricket dies including a coffin made out of bamboo.

In 2010 more than $63 million dollars where spent in Chinese crickets, crickets even follow a diet including, ground shrimp, red beans, goat liver, and maggots.

(Source)