Canada to stage T20 tournament in Caribbean

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Canadian T20 franchise NCL GT20 Canada is set to hold its 2026 edition in St Vincent and the Grenadines beginning next month.

The staging is designed to deepen cricketing, developmental and commercial ties between Canada and the West Indies, with Cricket Canada and Cricket West Indies (CWI) working together to bring Canadian, Caribbean and international talent on one platform.

The tournament provides an opportunity to strengthen player pathways between Canada and the Caribbean, while building relationships that can continue when the tournament returns to Canada next year.

Under the collaborative framework, CWI will play an important role in governance, compliance, and regulatory coordination and will also hold a direct franchise investment.

The structure reflects a broader objective of creating sustainable sporting and commercial connections across the Americas, while maintaining strong standards of administration and competition.

Opportunity for collaboration

Chief executive officer at CWI, Chris Dehring, praised the collaborative effort, saying it would benefit all parties involved.

“NCL GT20 Canada, together with the deep cricketing tradition of the West Indies, creates an exciting opportunity for collaboration. Hosting the 2026 tournament in the Caribbean before its return to Canada next year marks the beginning of a partnership that can facilitate the continued development of Canadian cricket while showcasing our region as one of the great cricketing regions of world cricket.

“As the only full member of the ICC in the hemisphere, we believe it is important to forge mutually beneficial relationships with ICC Associate Members across the region, for the health of the game and, indeed, for the continued development of West Indies cricket,” Dehring said.

President of Cricket Canada, Arvinder Khosa, also lauded the initiative.

“NCL GT20 is fundamentally a Canadian tournament, and the Caribbean provides a special home for our 2026 edition. This is about much more than taking a tournament to another country for one season. It is about building a bridge between Canadian and West Indies cricket, connecting players, administrators, fans and commercial partners.

“We thank Cricket West Indies for their support in delivering this tournament in the Caribbean. When NCL GT20 returns to Canada next year, we want to bring those relationships with us and create a lasting pathway between the Caribbean and Canada,” Khosa said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Creative Industries for St Vincent and the Grenadines, Kaschaka Cupid, said the island was set to benefit significantly from hosting the tournament.

“We welcome the opportunity to host the NCL GT20 League in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Bringing world-class sporting events to our shores is a major part of my mandate, and I am delighted that we can respond favourably to the request to host this historic event in the Caribbean,” Cupid said.