The GT20 Cricket Tournament returns to Toronto

BY KAYLA KARIM

After a successful tournament last summer in King City, Ontario, the Global T20 tournament returns to Toronto, this year being held in Brampton.

The annual cricket tournament features the top North American cricket players and some of the biggest names in cricket from around the world and is expected to draw national and international audiences.

The second season will start on Thursday, July 25^th with finals beginning on August 11^th, 2019.  Defending champions, Vancouver Knights will open the tournament taking on the host team, the Toronto Nationals. The tournament will consist of a total of 22 matches that include three playoff games followed by the finals.

President of Cricket Canada, Mr. Ranjit Saini, said, “Canada cannot wait for the action to begin. We at Cricket Canada are committed to providing much-needed opportunity and exposure to our Canadian players. We will work alongside the GT20 team to make the 2019 edition even more memorable for the players and fans. On behalf of Cricket Canada, I invite the cricket world to Canada.”

Aside from the President of Cricket Canada, many others are speaking highly of the tournament, including the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown.

“I’m proud to say that Brampton is hosting the GT20 Cricket Tournament this year! As a healthy and safe city where cricket is especially popular, Brampton is an ideal location for this renowned event. We invite local, national and international audiences to attend what is sure to be a thrilling tournament this summer.”

The City of Brampton has 12 major city-owned cricket fields along with four minor sized fields with two new full-sized fields; one being constructed in the 407/Dixie area and another at the Gore Meadows Community Centre. With the popularity of cricket increasing, Brampton has three large cricket projects underway in 2019 in addition to the installation of LED lighting at Teramento Park cricket field, the first of its kind for a full-sized field in Canada.

Another major name in cricket, Brian Lara praised the tournament in King City last year. “I was there to see the first edition of the league and was enormously impressed with the overall quality of cricket. Despite a few hiccups, Cricket Canada and GT20 team delivered an outstanding event. The hallmark of the event was a local boy Saad Bin Zafar winning the Man of the Match in the all-important finals in the presence of stars like Chris Gayle and Andre Russell. It proves that cricketers from these countries need these kinds of endeavors to prove their talent. “I hope GT20 season two will take cricket to greater heights in the North America region.”