More cricket fields could be coming to Toronto with new strategy

Toronto cricket fans have a reason to cheer this week after the city's executive committee pushed forward plans to develop a formal cricket strategy. 

The strategy would lay out ways to create and upgrade more cricket facilities while increasing programs for children amid a growing need for spaces to play the sport. 

The initiative is great news for young players like 16-year-old Yuvraj Jindal, who aspires to play for Canada professionally.

"That's like a dream come true for every cricketer here in Canada."

City staff say cricket is the fastest growing sport in the region but the 27 pitches across the city can't support the number of people looking to play. 

In comparison, there are over 230 baseball diamonds in the city — and some are already being used for cricket.

"It only makes sense that we adapt the infrastructure to what's being demanded and certainly what's being played out on the fields," Coun. Parthi Kandavel told CBC Toronto. 

Kandavel said the action is long overdue when considering the boom of immigration from India, especially young students. 

"We need to be able to adapt to the changing demographics of our neighbourhoods and provide a source of recreation that is missing from a community that is without parents, without support networks."

The city says it plans to build five new playing fields in the next five years, including a new full-size pitch at McCleary Park and two additional practice pitches at converted baseball diamonds located in Parma Park and Farquharson Park.

Staff also recommended the city partner with school boards to identify potential spaces, which Kandavel said will make building the pitches even more cost-effective. 

"Setting up a cricket pitch is not terribly expensive. It's about $60,000 to $80,000," he said. "So we can do this strategically in areas where it makes sense."

Shiv Persaud, the president of Scarborough Cricket Association, told CBC Toronto that the lack of fields is already a detriment to players.

"They are sometimes subject to the backyard, a small field, small batting cages," he said. "We don't all have the full experience just batting and bowling."