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Toronto: Toronto has been gripped by cricket fever as it gets ready to stage the first ever Al Barakah T20 Canada Cup.
The tournament will see Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and hosts Canada play each other.
Cricket Canada CEO Atul Ahuja said they were proud to host to the biggest international Twenty20 event after the last year's World Cup.
The Maple Leaf cricket facility - the only one in Canada as per ICC standards - has been given a complete makeover for the tournament, which begins today.
With seating arrangements for 10,000 people, organisers say the facility now looks like any world-class stadium.
"With a brand-new stadium which has a giant electronic scoreboard, a huge video screen and a fabulous dressing room and world-class media facilities, we are making cricketing history in Canada,'' said Ahuja.
Ahuja added that with the UAE-based organisers spending millions of dollars on the event, cricket offered a big opportunity to promote Canada as a tourist destination.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Mark Benson from England and Karan Bainey from Canada as the two umpires, while former Kiwi captain Jeff Crow has been named as the match referee.
Anti-corruption
The ICC has also sent its anti-corruption unit to Canada to monitor the tournament.
Ahuja said: "This unit is being represented by Ron Hope of the UK. He is here with his team members."
The tournaments is being televised in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Ahuja said: "The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Pakistan's Geo and ARY will telecast the action live.
"And we also have a large production team from India here for the tournament," said Ahuja.
The Pakistan squad includes fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar after a court delayed a decision on whether he must pay an outstanding fine to be eligible to play.
The Pakistan squad includes Shoaib Akhtar after a court decision on whether he must pay a fine before playing was delayed.
Dubai firm backs T20
Toronto's first international Twenty20 cricket has been sponsored by Dubai-based Al Barakah Group, a real estate company.
The four-day has been organised by Sports International Marketing (SIM), a Pakistan-based sports event company, along with Dubai firm Media Agency Middle East (MAME).
Commenting on its sponsorship of the match, Mr Imran Khan, CEO of Al Barakha Group, said: "We believe that the cricket tournament offers us a unique opportunity to highlight the spirit of Dubai in promoting sports across the world.
"Being a Dubai-based company, we consider it as great value add to our endeavour in foraying into the North American market, particularly Canada."
Organisers say the competition has ICC approval and was likely to become an annual international event.
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