The Canadian Premier League was created in 2012 by Roy Singh, a Toronto entrepreneur with a passion for cricket.

Driven by the idea that the T20 version of cricket could succeed in Canada if the right people were involved, Singh began his quest to take this faster version of the game into the Canadian mainstream. The Canadian Premier League will serve as a training ground for developing professional cricket players, coaches and personnel on and off the field. An emphasis will be placed on fundamental development, career advancement and community involvement.

This will truly be a Canadian venture in every way from recruiting players to engaging fans from coast to coast. Every day, Singh hears from individuals interested in the league as news and excitement for this exciting concept spreads rapidly across the nation. There is a strong fan base in Canada and North America for that matter. More than 100 million fans watch the Indian Premier League. But the development of talent and the promotion of the game in North America has been lacking.

For Singh, the disparity can be seen everywhere. You can find a baseball diamond with stands and numerous hockey arenas. Cricket meanwhile is often played wherever players can find a suitable field. It’s been relegated to a past time and not the competitive support that so many strive for it to be.

“Cricket in Canada should be viewed in a professional and fun way. It deserves to be at that level,” Singh said.

For some time many people have been interested in getting something off the ground but lacked the resources to be able to do so. Now that the groundwork is being laid, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Singh.

“People love the concept. Everyone wants to be a part of it and see it get to the next level which is difficult to do,” Singh said.

Singh envisions a league of 50 teams with the focus on developing talent in colleges and universities. That’s his 10 year plan. Ultimately, he hopes the Canadian Premier League will be as professionally run as the NHL, NBA, CFL and other major sports leagues.

“I want to create something that Canadians will enjoy. I want to create something for Canadian cricket fans. I want to be the guy who brought international and domestic cricket together,” Singh said.

Interested in learning more? Check out the Canadian Premier League’s official website for more information.