Bermuda support push for T20 at Pan Ams
Cricket Canada is spearheading the campaign which sees cricket playing nations in the Americas, including Bermuda, compete in the multi-sport event.They plan to put T20 up for consideration as a sport in the upcoming meeting of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) in Mexico City in March.Fray, who was recently voted in as the new president of the Bermuda Cricket Board, is continuing discussion with Cricket Canada is and very supportive of having Twenty20 at the next Pan Ams, held in Toronto.“The promotion of our great sport in any multinational games event is a huge opportunity to develop the game and provide incentives for our players,” said Fray.“It also allows the community additional opportunity to connect with, and be vitalised by, competition at an international event.“The BCB is one of many countries that is diligently promoting and canvassing for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games in addition to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014.“The BCB has always enjoyed a strong bond with the Bermuda Olympic Association.“With the additional support of the consideration of cricket in the Pan American Games being considered at the March meeting of PASO, the BCB will be applying for membership of the Bermuda Olympic Association in the near future.”Cricket Canada president Ranjit Saini believes it’s important for the development of the game in the region for cricket to be included in the Pan Am Games.“This is a very important opportunity for the development of cricket in Canada as well as the region” said Saini.Saini believes Canada is well positioned to host the proposed T20 event.He said: “The inclusion of T20 cricket will reduce the demand for large infrastructure requirements and hence creation of new and/or up grading of the current grounds will be easily affordable. “Most of the infrastructure exists and only minor upgrading is required.”The International Cricket Council pushed for cricket for the part of the 2020 Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee rejected it for consideration last summer.