The latest one to hop on the bandwagon of league cricket is Cricket Canada. With hopes to pique the interest of viewers and inspire youngsters at home and abroad, Cricket Canada announced this league in 2018. The first edition was played in the same year in June, with six teams competing.
Well, it was not too easy for Cricket Canada to announce a cricket league and get away with it, owing to its cricket history and fans’ perspective. However, after getting a green signal from ICC (International Cricket Council) in February 2018, Cricket Canada kicked off its most ambitious venture.
The six teams included Vancouver Knights, Winnipeg Hawks, Toronto Nationals, Surrey Jaguars, Montreal Tigers, and Brampton Wolves. Generally, each team plays four Canadian cricketers and the rest are freelance cricketers from around the world, including India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Srilanka, Australia, and other cricket-playing nations.
Among the marquee players that have already participated in the league include Steve Smith, Yuvraj Singh Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Brendon McCullum, David Warner, Andre Russell, David Miller, Chris Lynn, and Thisara Perera.
However, After two seasons, in 2018 and 2019, GT20 could not pull the third season due to the emergence of Covid 19. But after three years, GT20 Canada has recently announced that it is back, and the third season will be played from July 2023.
Rashpal Bajwa, the president of Cricket Canada, categorically stated that they are committed to improving players’ experience in the coming seasons. It’s to produce a world-class event for fans, and inspire youngsters to participate in sports.
The news has it, for the third season, Vancouver Knights have roped in Pakistan’s superstar payer, wicket-keeper batsman, Mohammad Rizwan. This news caught the attention of passionate cricket fans in Pakistan and its neighboring country, India- which is known as one of the most powerful and passionate niches in cricket.
GT20 Canada Season 3 Fixtures
As of now, the official schedule for the tournament has not been released. But the tournament is set to be played in Malaysia. The opening match will be played on July 20, 2023, while the final on August 6, 2023.
This season will feature six teams. Each team will have ten international players from full and associate nations. The players will include two famous and world-class marquee players, one Malaysian national player, three Canadian national team players, and three emerging Canadian cricketers.
Where to Watch GT20 Canada Season 3?
Here is how you can watch the thriller of the matches from different regions of the world:
- If you live in Canada, you can watch live matches on CBN. It will broadcast free live streaming online.
- Cricket fans in Asia may watch live entertainment on Hotstar. They may also watch live broadcasting on Star Sports.
- For US residents, you may watch GT20 Canada on Hotstar USA and Free Sports. So, it is super easy to be entertained this summer with the ultimate drama and thriller.
However, you must have a TV and internet subscription. If you do not have any yet, then you may look for some of the TV service providers in the country. Cox, for example, offers a wide list of HD channels and allows you to stream apps on your TV. If you want to learn more, you may contact Cox servicio al cliente (for Spanish customers).
A Flashback to the Past Two Seasons
When ICC approved the GT20 Canada, the first season kicked off with zeal and zest. 22 matches were played in the season, and Vancouver Knights and Cricket West Indies B Team were the teams to reach the finals. In the first season, Vancouver Knights became victorian beating the opponent by seven wickets.
A 22-match contest was again played in 2019, which remained a bit controversial. On July 26, 2019, the match between Montreal Tigers and Winnipeg Hawks was delayed for 90 minutes due to a bomb threat. Then, on August 7, 2019, the match between Toronto Nationals and Montreal Tigers was delayed for 2 hours in protest of unpaid wages.
Wrap Up
This is an exciting year for all the cricket freaks around the world, with Ashes, Asia Cup, and World Cup to be played one after the other. So, buckle up for back-to-back entertainment, and enjoy GT20 Canada which will be played in July.