I have suggested in the past that one day in the not so distant future a professional cricket league will be launched in North America.
There is a chance it might be a Canadian effort, at least if the T20 Tournament, now in its second year in this country finds the success it hopes for to allow for an evolution into an actual city-based league.
鈥淭he role that T20 international tournaments globally play in the development of the game is of the utmost importance. Along with capturing the imagination of our youth, the Global T20 Canada game is poised to catapult cricket as the world鈥檚 leading sport with a continued growth in broadcast viewership,鈥� details www.gt20.ca
鈥淲hile attaining heights of the Indian Premier League and Big Bash is the goal, we believe that youth development of players and officials is integral to the longevity and continued growth of the product.鈥�
This year鈥檚 event is set for July 25 to Aug. 11, with six teams representing Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and host Brampton.
I am hoping there will be a low-cost online option to watch some games. I say low-cost only because spending too much on a sport I know little about isn鈥檛 something I am likely to do. I do generally like team sports. I can probably list 15-plus I would watch if a team I have some attachment to was playing, but that doesn鈥檛 mean I enjoy every team sport. But, I am curious about cricket, the T20 version at least, and if a Canadian league is a possibility down the road I鈥檇 like to watch some games to see what I think.
So, I will be watching social media to see just what viewing options will be offered.
Ditto an event coming up later in September.
It鈥檚 a while away, but mark Sept. 19 鈥� 28, on your sports calendars. That is the time for the 2019 edition of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships which are being held in Langley, BC.
The championship this year has 20-teams scheduled to compete, with the host nation the favourites as usual in indoor lacrosse.
鈥淲hen Team Canada hits the floor for the 2019 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, they will do so with some lofty standards to live up to,鈥� relates www.wilc2019.ca
鈥淭he Championship has been held every four years since its inception in 2003. And all four times, Team Canada has won the gold medal. A victory in 2019 鈥� which will be hosted by Langley Events Centre from Sept. 19 to 28 鈥� would make it five-for-five for the Canadian side.
鈥淎nd if past tournaments are any indication, one of Canada鈥檚 main rivals will be the Iroquois Nationals.
鈥淚n all four previous Championships, it has been those two teams facing off with the gold medal on the line, with Canada prevailing each time.
鈥淚n 2003, Canada won 21-4. Four years later, the game required overtime, but the Canadians still prevailed, 15-14. In 2011, it was Canada winning 13-6 and then at the last Championship, in 2015, Canada won 12-8. The United States has also claimed bronze at all four previous Championships.
鈥淭hose three teams, in that order, are currently ranked 1-2-3 in the world, with Israel and England ranked fourth and fifth. Ireland, Czech Republic, Australia, Finland and Turkey round out the top 10.鈥�
The entire Team Canada roster is made up of players from the National Lacrosse League including Saskatchewan Rush players Mark Matthews, Robert Church, Ben McIntosh, Kyle Rubisch, and Chris Corbeil on the 23-man roster.
One other event to mention so it can be marked on calendars is the Men鈥檚 World Cup of Rugby that starts Sept. 20 in Japan, with the Championship game Nov. 2. Since I am a rugby junkie, you can expect more on this, and Canada鈥檚 team in coming weeks.
