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Canada became the latest to embrace franchise-based T20 cricket with the formation of the Global T20 Canada. The announcement of the league - conceptualised, designed, developed and managed by India's Mercuri Group in association with Cricket Canada - was done in New Delhi on Thursday (February 22).
The league, which has earned approval from the International Cricket Council, is set to take place later this year, in July, across three venues in Toronto. The league is set to have "six franchises drawn on geographical lines, with the possibility to include two-three more teams in the coming years, with four Canadian local players per squad with the rest being international players," stated the release, in addition to having a "high-powered Cricket Advisory Board made up of eminent former players."
"Twenty20 Major League Cricket has the potential to change Canadian cricket forever," said Cricket Canada president Mr Ranjit Saini. "It is a great challenge and Cricket Canada is ready to deliver a resounding success. Canada is a great sporting country and event hosting and management skills exist in abundance. This event will not only be a great cricket experience, it will also help grow our tourism potential as a nation."
Saini also noted that that one of the six sides will comprise only West Indian overseas players, alongside cricketers from Canada.
Canada has a historic association with cricket. The first-ever international (cricket) match featured a Canadian side against United States at Bloomingdale Park in Manhattan in 1844, with Canada winning the encounter by 18 runs.
(CRICBUZZ)
