Galaxy Of Stars But Canada’s Cricket Still Gloomy

By Ravi Madholall
In the context of cricket, the year 2019 whizzed past for Canada who once again failed to make another mega International Cricket Council (ICC) appearance after their quest for qualification in the next Global T20 tournament.

Last October, the Canadians were trading their skills in United Arab featuring in the 16-team ICC qualifier competition but only churned out three wins from their six outings.

Since the inception of the ICC T20 World Cup tournament in 2007, Canada have not been able to participate as they making a ‘mess’ of things at the qualifying stage.

In an effort to boost the country’s game, Global T20 was inaugurated in 2018, much to the delight of their fans. A galaxy of stars hit the Canadian shores exhibiting their talents in the eight-team competition.

Canada Cricket gleefully welcomed the initiatives with an epic heart by seeing some of the hugest T20 players from powerful cricketing nations participated. In 2018, the likes of West Indies Chris Gayle, a no-nonsense opening batsman led Vancouver Knights to triumph pocketing over US$500, 000 while the second year, 2019, Brampton Wolves dethroned them.

Mercuri Canada, which signed a 25-year deal with Cricket Canada to manage and operate the league, plans to grow and develop the league.

Canada Cricket is happy to receive such a massive help as their players could have more opportunities on the field now.

Many have every reason to believe that the Canada’s cricket can make a rise as well with this massive injection of funds while the players, both aspiring and current, are inspired to make a greater impact while representing the North America side at the ICC Division cricket. The organisers of Global t20 have given Cricket Canada money to help with the development of their players.

In 2014/15 it was sad news for them as they would have lost one-day status as an ICC Associated member, but they have vowed to come back with a [bang] especially with the presence of T20 and distinguished players arriving on a yearly basis to take part in the Global T20.

At the first season, two of Australian’s great contemporary players Steve Smith and David Warner provided their services while Sri Lanka’s ace fast-bowler Lasith Malinga was also showing his zing of speed by captain Montreal Tigers.

Other World-known T20 athletes to have graced the occasions were: West Indians Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Pakistani Shahid Afridi, Indian Yuraj Singh, and South African David Miller just to name these.

According to many cricket enthusiasts based in Canada via Social Media, the country is loaded with talented players as they would have demonstrated at various competitive tournaments, including World Division Cricket League which is run under the auspices of the ICC.

year, Canada participated in the Cricket West Indies regional Super50 tournament and failed to reach the knockout stage but there were several encouraging, individual performances.

Adding to that, and to their astonishment, Canada first appeared at the ICC 50-over World Cup in 1979 but could not have featured back until 2003, 2007 and 2011. They were eliminated in first rounds at every event while they failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2019 editions.

But here are some admiration for the Under-19 team which will again be in the ICC youth World Cup slated to commence later this month in South Africa. They are in Group D alongside the hosts, Afghanistan and UAE as the American champion.

Apart from the gloomy year, the stage is set for the third tournament of Global T20 which will take place in June, according to a source close to Cricket Canada.

The excitement should be replicated with a legion of T20 stars coming back in anticipation of more dominance, entertainment and crowd-catching of the whiteball. It is cricket lovely cricket during the summer time…..