Picture Credit: GT20 Canada
The latest cricketing tournament to become the victim of COVID-19 is the 2021 edition of the Global T20 Canada which had to be cancelled owing to the pandemic. While the organisers had planned to conduct the third edition of the tournament in June 2020, it was pushed back by an year due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. While it was also announced earlier this year that Malaysia could host the tournament in June-July, the plans have now been called off.
The same was confirmed after Global T20 Canada issued an official announcement on its official social media handles.
Meanwhile, Cricket Canada President Rashpal Bajwa was disappointed with the unfortunate development but hoped that the competition would come back in 2022.
We are committed to bringing back bigger, stronger GT20 Canada in 2022: Cricket Canada President
"We at Cricket Canada are very disappointed in announcing the cancellation of 2021 edition of GT20. We assure all cricket lovers of Canada and the rest of the world that we are committed to bringing back bigger, Stronger GT20 Canada in 2022. Looking forward to welcoming cricketing fraternity for 2022 edition of GT20 in Canada," Bajwa was quoted as saying.
The tournament made a name for itself in its first two seasons as other than the local talent, some of the big overseas stars, the likes of Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, Lasith Malinga, David Warner, Daren Sammy, Faf du Plessis, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, George Bailey, Brendon McCullum and Andre Russell had taken part in the competition.
While Vancouver Knights won the inaugural edition of the league in 2018, Winnipeg Hawks won the tournament in its subsequent edition.