Canada sign five-year deal for more tournaments

The organisers of the ongoing four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada, Al-Barakah Properties, have signed a five-year contract with Cricket Canada to organise more such international tournaments in the country in summer.

The current tournament is being played at King City and involves two high-profile teams in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who will contest the final on Tuesday. Canada and Zimbabwe are the other teams.

"It is a step forward in promoting cricket in Canada and we will be holding such cricket events in which the world's best teams including Pakistan, India, South Africa or other teams are playing, depending on their availability, of course," Imran Khan, the chief executive of the Dubai-based Al-Barakah company, said.

While the current series is being played in autumn, the organisers are hoping to stage more tournaments when the weather is more conducive.

"The International Cricket Council has approved our future plans and we have joined hands with Cricket Canada to promote cricket here under a long-term scheme," Khan said. "From May to August, we have ideal weather for international cricket tournaments in Canada and we will be organising our events in these months to attract crowd from all over the world."

He also praised the initiative of Nasim Ashraf, the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, for bringing international cricket to Canada.