“In Antigua and Barbuda, cricket is huge, and we
have produced a number of great international
players. We are thrilled to see more and more
Canadians embracing the game as we have,”
said Sir Curtly Ambrose.
On Friday, May 10, the Knights participated in
the ICC T20 Trophy Tour and assembled for the
high-profile “A Night with the Knights” at the
Galaxy Grand Convention Centre in Brampton.
The food and entertainment inclusive event saw
Sir “Richie” Richardson and Sir Curtly Ambrose
take to the stage to perform as part of Antigua
and Barbuda’s famed Spirited Band, energizing
those in attendance with an eclectic setlist
West Indies cricketing giants and legends of the
sport – Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Anderson Roberts,
Sir Richard Richardson, and Sir Curtly Ambrose
– are officially heading home after a landmark series
of public appearances throughout the Greater Toronto
Area. Their visit was orchestrated by the Antigua and
Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) and its local partners
as part of the Cricket and Culture Tour which kicked off
in the UK last month.
“There is no better time to come visit us in Antigua and
Barbuda” said Tameka Wharton, ABTA Director of
Tourism, Canada. “There is so much happening with
cricket matches all summer long, romance month in
June and Antigua Carnival in early August. On top
of that Canadians can get to Antigua and Barbuda
so easily with direct flights on Air Canada and with
WestJet adding a mid-week Wednesday flight in June
in addition to its standard Sunday flight.”
The Knights’ visit came at an exciting time for the
future of cricket in Canada, as a growing South Asian and
Afro-Caribbean diaspora continues to bolster the sport into
becoming the country’s fastest-growing sport. Additionally, 2024
marks Canada’s first time to play in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,
with Antigua and Barbuda set to host eight exciting matches at
its Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
“Canada’s qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a
monumental achievement for the country, and spells well for the
future of cricket in Canada.” said Sir Vivian Richards.
From May 8 through May 12, the Knights maintained a robust
itinerary that included several media interviews, broadcast
appearances including Breakfast Television and a handful of
headline events to celebrate cricket.
On Thursday, May 9, the Knights met with students, youth players,
and staff at Dallington Public School and were also joined by
Woodbine, and Don Valley school teams in North York, where
they offered words of encouragement and some choice batting
and bowling tips to the next generation of Canadian cricketers.