By NOUMAN KHALIL
The City of Barrie has finally gotten its first ever cricket ground. Considering a long-standing demand of local players, the city authorities recently freed up the Maitland Park ground for the sport of cricket, while Atul Ahuja, former CEO of Cricket Canada, laid the pitch as a gift to Barrie residents. Interestingly both the ground and Barrie Cricket League (BCL) were inaugurated the same day earlier this season.
“Is a milestone and like a dream come true for Barrie cricketers,” Arjun Batra, president BCL, told Focus.
Batra said due to the increasing number of international students at Georgian College, the demand for cricket is on the rise and it is difficult for the students to play sports like hockey or snowboarding.

Ahuja and Bollywood music composer Loy Mendonsa of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Bollywood’s music and composing trio, inaugurated the ground.

Besides a number of local dignitaries and guests, Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament, and City Councillors Bonnie Ainsworth and Peter Silveira were also present. A certificate of recognition on behalf of Mayor Jeff Lehman was also presented.

Recently a petition signed by more than 500 residents along with supporting letters from MP Brown and Georgian College was submitted to the City, and Council agreed to grant permission for the ground.

On gaining permission, Ahuja supplied a PVC pitch as a gift to support and help local cricketers make their dreams a reality.

“It was a long struggle that finally paid off,” said Ammar Sikandar, BCL’s director of development.

Sikandar thanked the City, MP Patrick Brown, Georgian College and Atul Ahuja for understanding and looking into the needs of local players.

A friendly match was also played on the occasion.

The BCL will function in twenty20 format and looks forward to more teams from the Simcoe and Toronto regions to participate in its tournament.