Welcome Canadian College Cricket !
American College Cricket Founder & President Lloyd Jodah today said, “We are pleased at the launch of Canadian College Cricket to strengthen to our efforts since 2009 at developing, and providing a platform for young cricketers in Canada. Hassan Mirza has shown a commitment to the cause, and an eagerness to learn from American College Cricket’s journey and principles. The road won’t be easy, it will take a willingness on the part of players & teams to contribute, to follow rules, and work within a structure to ensure continuity and development. ”
Hassan Mirza first brought the Ryerson team to an American College Cricket tournament for the North East Regionals in 2011. It was obvious the respect the team members had for him as a leader.
However university-level sports in Canada has some different challenges than in America, where college sports is an established tradition, and eco-system. Hassan gained an increasing understanding of this from his experience in American College Cricket, and his discussions with Lloyd Jodah, who wanted to see cricket infrastructure developed in Canadian universities as American College Cricket had done in the US, rather than simply having an annual tournament. With Lloyd’s support and encouragement Canadian College Cricket was launched by Hassan, and undertook as its first task, assisting American College Cricket with the playing of the Canada vs USA Series for the 1844 Jodah Trophy.
Lloyd had the foresight when he founded American College Cricket to include Canadian universities and back in March 2010 York University won the American College Cricket Championship, and got significant media exposure by being seen worldwide on the web stream of the Semis and Finals. That web stream was the first ever done in the USA & Canada for local cricket and established a standard that, unfortunately, has still not been achieved by other cricket organizations in the USA.
York University was also featured in Canada’s top paper – the “Globe & Mail”. Many university cricket teams were started as a result of this, or directly by Lloyd working with students in other colleges such as McGill and Queens Universities. However an enduring structure and continuity was needed and it is hoped that Canadian College Cricket will develop that structure, with American College Cricket guidance and support.
Canadian universities will continue to be granted membership in American College Cricket and participation in the American College Cricket Championship in March but can now look locally to Canadian College Cricket for organizing of a Canadian College Cricket National Championship, and ultimately to win entry in the ACC World Cup. Ryerson will represent Canada in the Jan 2016 World Cup.
Hassan is coordinating much of the logistics at the Canadian end for the inaugural Canada vs USA Series, following in the footsteps of many American College Cricket players who have played major roles at our Regional & National Championships over the years. Fellow Ryerson player Farhan Khan, now 1st Vice President of the Toronto District Cricket Association (TDCA) is also playing a significant role.
The matches will be played at a King City turf field just outside Toronto. King City has hosted International teams including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, USA & Afghanistan.
Game 1 : 10 am May 23
Game 2 : 2.30 pm May 23
Game 3 : 1 pm May 24
The Series will be played for the 1844 Jodah Trophy in celebration of the Sept 1844 cricket match between Canada and the USA, which was the First Ever Sporting Event between 2 countries – effectively the first time countries battled (peacefully) on a playing field, instead of a battle field !
Surely one of the most momentous events in mankind’s history, and the beginning of International sports which has had so much positive benefits for the world.
The Trophy, and the Series also recognizes the tremendous contribution the Jodah family has made to cricket in the past.
“Like’ the Canadian College Cricket page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/canadiancollegecricket?fref=ts
