The 2015 Niagara Cricket Festival begins on Friday (August 14, 2015) with a game between Niagara Elites and the India Cricket Academy XI at the Niagara Cricket Centre, Thorold, Ontario. This Twenty20 game is scheduled for a 4pm start.
On Saturday (August 15) the Niagara Cricket Centre (NCC) will host Ontario Australian Football League XI v Niagara Elites at 1pm, followed by India Cricket Academy XI v Ontario Australian Football League XI at 4pm.
Matches in the other group will take place on Saturday at John N. Allan Park. Crescent Cricket Club and Hamilton Cricket Club are due to launch this group at 10am. Smart Choice, with a base of current Canadian internationals, then play Crescent CC at 1pm. This group concludes with Smart Choice playing Hamilton CC at 4pm.
Sunday morning will see one semi-final game being played with a scheduled start time of 9.30am at each ground (NCC and Nathan Allan Park).
The Bhangra Dance competition and shows become the focus at the NCC from 1pm until 3.15pm. Six teams are competing in the Bhangra event: Rangeelay Co-Ed, 2 Step Bhangra, Panj Pani, Brampton City Girls Bhangra, Xtreme Bhangra Co-Ed and Nachdi Jawani.
The Championship cricket game, featuring the winning teams from Sunday morning’s semi-finals, follows with a 3.30pm start. The presentation of awards will take place after the end of the championship game. (EN)
Media release:-
Niagara Cricket and Bhangra Festival
Cricket and Bhangra dance groups from around the world will travel to the Niagara Cricket Center (NCC) to participate in the annual Niagara Cricket and Bhangra Dance Festival on August 16th, 2015.
Six cricket teams will compete for prize money in Canada’s most prestigious cricket event. Some teams are from the Niagara Region while others are travelling from outside of Canada, such as the US and India. “We’re really excited to be welcoming teams from cricket-mad nations like India” said Tan Qureshi, Niagara Cricket Club member of the board.
“Having delegations like this ascend on Niagara in just our third year of running the event proves the growing stature of our event in the global cricket landscape.’
New to the event this year is an international Bhangra (Indian break-dancing) competition that will take place during halftime on championship Sunday. ‘Bhangra’s popularity is exploding outside of Indian film cinema as well.’
Added Qureshi. ‘We invite fans of music and high-intensity dancing to see what this new phenomena is all about.’
The event is another feather in the cap for the Niagara Cricket Center, located at 5114 Thorold Townline Rd. in Thorold. With events like the Niagara Cricket and Bhangra Festival, and with its recent unveiling of 5 natural turf pitches, the facility is arguably one of Canada’s best. ‘It’s really hard to believe,’ said Qureshi. ‘Three years ago the property was just a bunch of weeds and leaves. Now we’re the only facility in Ontario available and ready to host international competitions in Canada’s fastest growing sport. We’re really positioned well for the future.’ Qureshi noted.
The Cricket Council of Ontario, the governing body of cricket in Ontario where 80% of Canada’s cricket is played, will be sending representatives to officiate the tournament at the NCC.
Last year’s festival drew thousands of attendees on-site and on-line through live- streaming. The event was hosted by YouTube sensation JusReign, boasted world- class cricket, Indian dancers and musicians. The event was covered by media outlets throughout Canada, the US and in all cricket-playing nations.
Admission is $10 and includes parking on site. Admission to the cricket tournament’s preliminary rounds on August 14th and 15th is free.