Cricket officially becomes a sport in Canada

Datto · 06-20-2008, 10:49 PM

Cricket comes of age in Canada; wins recognition from Ottawa
June 20, 2008 - 16:24
Colin Perkel, THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - Propelled by the avid enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of recent immigrants, cricket has finally come of age in Canada - about 150 years after it was once regarded as the country's national sport.
The federal government announced Friday it was officially recognizing the game, elevating its formal stature and making it eligible for much needed public funding.
Continued Below

"It's a tremendous day for cricket," said Ben Sennik, president of Cricket Canada, the umbrella organization that speaks for the sport and is responsible for the Canadian national team.
The recognition, which follows a decade of lobbying, means an immediate grant of $77,000 for 2007-2008. While it's a modest sum, Sennik could barely contain his delight.
"We need every dollar, the way we are developing," he said. "In the past, we have been scraping through."
Canada is no stranger to the pastime, with reports of games played here as far back as the mid-18th century.
The country's first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, declared it Canada's national sport in 1867 and Cricket Canada itself was established in 1892. However, the game was quickly overtaken by baseball in importance.
In recent years, interest has risen to a new level with the influx of immigrants from cricket-crazy areas such as Pakistan, India and the Caribbean, as well as from other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, South Africa and the U.K.
A happy Toronto taxi driver, Ahmad Choudhuri, began pontificating about Canada's place in the cricket world immediately after hearing about Ottawa's decision.
"They have a lot of good players over here," said Choudhuri, who played the "gentleman's game" as a boy in India.
"If they want, they can have a really good team. If they get funding, they can get a very good team."
About 40,000 people in Canada are registered as cricket players with their provincial associations - the best of them barely qualifying even as semi-professionals. As many as 50,000 others are estimated to play regularly and schools are increasingly getting in on the game as well.
Ottawa is committed to spending $164 million a year supporting more than 50 different sports, and Secretary of State for Sport Helena Guergis welcomed cricket to the fold.
"It is an exciting day for cricketers for Cricket Canada, as a national sports organization, to have the opportunity to be recognized by the federal government," Guergis said.
Cricket Canada used the opportunity to show off the national team's natty new uniform - grey with a red stripe on the sides of the shirt and pants, with a splash of yellow on the sleeves.
National teams from Scotland, Ireland and Bermuda, along with international powerhouse the West Indies, are all due to visit for games this summer.

http://www.macleans.ca/canada/wire/a...ntent=n062085A

Deep_Stich · 06-21-2008, 08:36 AM

Well, if they put our funds for "sports" like baseball and "curling," why not cricket?

I just hope this won't mean it will cut TV sports coverage from basketball and soccer; they can take if from hockey - it's got enough.

**Velvet** · 06-27-2008, 02:59 AM

Thats really good news .. Hope they get to play the Aussies one day

Bugstomper · 06-27-2008, 03:01 AM

So now we can spend another 150 years figuring out the rules.

**Velvet** · 06-27-2008, 03:02 AM

Cricket is easy hun .. infact if they play the 5 day matches you will be bored.. One dayers are best

One dayers give you a good fast game

Bugstomper · 06-27-2008, 03:07 AM

You are talking about the north american audience. If the match takes longer that the average man can hold his bladder or drink 7 beers it just won't fly.

**Velvet** · 06-27-2008, 03:08 AM

Well for one dayers each team gets 50 overs to score as much and they can ... 5 day games definately wont wash there .

Bugstomper · 06-27-2008, 03:19 AM

Do cricket teams have cheerleaders? That buys you an extra half-day at least.

**Mugzy** · 06-27-2008, 12:02 PM

Unbelievable...my tax dollars at work!

noir11 · 06-30-2008, 11:27 AM

go raptors

Kurgan · 07-13-2008, 12:55 AM

20 20 is the way forward if you want thrills. 20 overs each to get the highest score. I prefer the 5 dayers. You see a battle of wills betwen bowler and batsman which is thrilling sometimes

**Mugzy** · 07-13-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurgan

...which is thrilling sometimes

*yawn*

Kurgan · 07-14-2008, 12:29 AM

Now Now Mugzy, you're almost sounding American :wazz:

Datto · 07-14-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noir11

go raptors

Hmmmm?

Southern Belle · 07-14-2008, 04:28 PM

Copied that to my sweetie in UK. He plays for a club.

06-20-2008, 10:49 PM	#1
Datto Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,057 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Cricket officially becomes a sport in Canada Cricket comes of age in Canada; wins recognition from Ottawa June 20, 2008 - 16:24 Colin Perkel, THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO - Propelled by the avid enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of recent immigrants, cricket has finally come of age in Canada - about 150 years after it was once regarded as the country's national sport. The federal government announced Friday it was officially recognizing the game, elevating its formal stature and making it eligible for much needed public funding. Continued Below "It's a tremendous day for cricket," said Ben Sennik, president of Cricket Canada, the umbrella organization that speaks for the sport and is responsible for the Canadian national team. The recognition, which follows a decade of lobbying, means an immediate grant of $77,000 for 2007-2008. While it's a modest sum, Sennik could barely contain his delight. "We need every dollar, the way we are developing," he said. "In the past, we have been scraping through." Canada is no stranger to the pastime, with reports of games played here as far back as the mid-18th century. The country's first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, declared it Canada's national sport in 1867 and Cricket Canada itself was established in 1892. However, the game was quickly overtaken by baseball in importance. In recent years, interest has risen to a new level with the influx of immigrants from cricket-crazy areas such as Pakistan, India and the Caribbean, as well as from other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, South Africa and the U.K. A happy Toronto taxi driver, Ahmad Choudhuri, began pontificating about Canada's place in the cricket world immediately after hearing about Ottawa's decision. "They have a lot of good players over here," said Choudhuri, who played the "gentleman's game" as a boy in India. "If they want, they can have a really good team. If they get funding, they can get a very good team." About 40,000 people in Canada are registered as cricket players with their provincial associations - the best of them barely qualifying even as semi-professionals. As many as 50,000 others are estimated to play regularly and schools are increasingly getting in on the game as well. Ottawa is committed to spending $164 million a year supporting more than 50 different sports, and Secretary of State for Sport Helena Guergis welcomed cricket to the fold. "It is an exciting day for cricketers for Cricket Canada, as a national sports organization, to have the opportunity to be recognized by the federal government," Guergis said. Cricket Canada used the opportunity to show off the national team's natty new uniform - grey with a red stripe on the sides of the shirt and pants, with a splash of yellow on the sleeves. National teams from Scotland, Ireland and Bermuda, along with international powerhouse the West Indies, are all due to visit for games this summer. http://www.macleans.ca/canada/wire/a...ntent=n062085A

06-27-2008, 03:01 AM	#4
Bugstomper Post Whore Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Out beyond Posts: 18,173 Thanks: 10 Thanked 293 Times in 113 Posts	So now we can spend another 150 years figuring out the rules. __________________ AV and Sig by Teabelly!

06-27-2008, 03:07 AM	#6
Bugstomper Post Whore Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Out beyond Posts: 18,173 Thanks: 10 Thanked 293 Times in 113 Posts	You are talking about the north american audience. If the match takes longer that the average man can hold his bladder or drink 7 beers it just won't fly. __________________ AV and Sig by Teabelly!

06-27-2008, 03:19 AM	#8
Bugstomper Post Whore Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Out beyond Posts: 18,173 Thanks: 10 Thanked 293 Times in 113 Posts	Do cricket teams have cheerleaders? That buys you an extra half-day at least. __________________ AV and Sig by Teabelly!

06-27-2008, 12:02 PM	#9
Mugzy Mod, All AS teams, Friend Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: On the edge Posts: 71,717 Thanks: 2 Thanked 255 Times in 116 Posts	Unbelievable...my tax dollars at work! __________________ __________________

06-21-2008, 08:36 AM	#2
Deep_Stich Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 696 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, if they put our funds for "sports" like baseball and "curling," why not cricket? I just hope this won't mean it will cut TV sports coverage from basketball and soccer; they can take if from hockey - it's got enough.

06-30-2008, 11:27 AM	#10
noir11 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	go raptors

07-13-2008, 12:55 AM	#11
Kurgan Meatspinning Trash Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UK Posts: 8,025 Thanks: 84 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	20 20 is the way forward if you want thrills. 20 overs each to get the highest score. I prefer the 5 dayers. You see a battle of wills betwen bowler and batsman which is thrilling sometimes __________________ Awesome sig care of Fricnjay

07-14-2008, 12:29 AM	#13
Kurgan Meatspinning Trash Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UK Posts: 8,025 Thanks: 84 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Now Now Mugzy, you're almost sounding American :wazz: __________________ Awesome sig care of Fricnjay

07-14-2008, 04:28 PM	#15
Southern Belle Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 18,697 Thanks: 24 Thanked 31 Times in 23 Posts	Copied that to my sweetie in UK. He plays for a club. __________________

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