Canadian Premier League T20
By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
The teams for the first ever Canadian Premier League (CPL) T20 have been named as the countdown begins to the exciting 20/20 cricket tourney in Montreal, Canada next summer.
Roy Singh is the founder, Chairman and CEO of the Canadian Premier League T20.
Founder, Chairman and CEO of the CPL T20, Roy Singh made the announcement on recently that the 10-team League will take place at the Montreal Olympic Stadium on July 12, 2015.
The teams are follows: The Snow Owls, The Hummingbirds, The Condors, The Predators, The Hornets, The Huskies, The Sentinels, The Bobcats, The Spartans and The Wolverines.
According to Singh, each team will consist of 15 professional cricketers from around North America as well as global cricketing superstars from across the world.
Each squad will be filled by invitation only to key players. So far, a number of top international cricketers will be included in each team. West Indians Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieran Powell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin; Australia’s Shane Warne and India’s Sachin Tendulkar are just a few who already confirmed their readiness.
A total of 48 games will be played during the tournament sanctioned by Cricket Canada while these games are expected to be televised across the globe.
Singh conceptualized and created the CPL T20 in the summer of 2012 after recognizing the opportunity to expand cricket in Canada through the excitement and exhilaration of a dazzling Twenty20 League.
The purpose of the League is to serve as a training ground for developing professional cricket players, coaches and personnel on and off the field and to that aim, emphasis will be placed on fundamental development, career advancement and community involvement.
“With an increasing number of Canadians born in countries where cricket is part of their life-blood, the CPLT20 is in a dynamic position to capture the hearts and imagination of hundreds of thousands of fans in this country,” Singh stated.
CPL will own the ten teams for the first two years of the company’s existence before selling each team after two years. CPL is currently selling ownership stakes to interested investors.
The CPL’s management committee includes: Singh, the highly successful Toronto-based entrepreneur who serves as CEO and Chairman; former West Indies Cricket Captain, Chanderpaul, a director of the company; West Indies cricketing superstars, Bravo, Ramdin and Powell, who will serve as co-owners.
Former Toronto Star reporter, Bob Mitchell who has been appointed President and Emma Everett, Managing Agent to Bravo, Ramdin, Powell and Sir Richie Richardson, who will serve as Head of Global Player Operations.