Local athletes will once again be representing Canada on the world stage when cricketers from Brampton head to the ICC T20 World Cup this year.
The T20 World Cup trophy will be in town this weekend as the City of Brampton will be hosting a send-off party for members of the Team Canada men’s and women’s cricket teams, including a roster of hometown players.
The Canadian men’s team is headed to the ICC T20 World Cup for the first time this year with an opening-day match against the United States on June 1, and the city is marking the historic moment with a celebration in Ken Whillans Square.
Cricket fans are invited to meet members of the men’s and women’s cricket teams on Saturday and get their picture taken with the T20 World Cup trophy. Players at the event will include Canada cricket captain and Brampton’s own Saad Bin Zafar, Brampton Wolves bowler Jeremy Gordon, and Canada national cricket team batter Nicholas Kirton.
“This event not only showcases our love for cricket but also celebrates the diversity and unity within our community,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement, urging residents and sports fans to “rally behind our team and as they go for gold.”
Combined with cricket’s approval for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Zafar said in November that making the T20 means Canada’s cricket future is looking bright.
“I’m super-happy, super-excited. Looking forward to a lot more better things in future in cricket,” he said. “I’m feeling really positive. I think finally things are working for us.”
The city says cricket is the fastest-growing sport in Brampton and council is aiming to be the cricket capital of Canada with $8 million in cricket infrastructure investments and programming this year alone, including the launch of its first youth cricket league.
Brampton is also moving ahead with plans for the city’s first year-round cricket dome in Earnscliffe Park for players to use even in the winter months.
The city’s ICC T20 World Cup send-off event runs on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ken Whillans Square.
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