TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024--
Cricket in Canada has reached new heights in 2024, driven by historic achievements from the Men’s National Team, unprecedented fan engagement, and a lineup of dynamic corporate partnerships supporting Cricket Canada’s growth.
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“This was truly an unprecedented year for cricket in Canada,” said Rahul Srinivasan, CEO of Boundaries North, Cricket Canada’s trusted partner for driving commercial growth. “We saw fans and new sponsors rally around cricket and our National Teams like never before. This support helped propel Canadian cricket to new heights on the international stage and set the stage for a wonderful domestic celebration of the game. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and there is so much more to come for cricket in this country.”
Highlights of 2024
Men’s National Team Debuts in ICC T20 World Cup
Canada’s National Men’s Team made history in 2024 by playing in its first-ever ICC T20 World Cup, a major milestone for Canadian cricket on the global stage. Canada clinched a thrilling opening-round victory, showcasing skill, dedication, and teamwork that raised the profile of Canadian cricket and signaled the nation’s growing potential in world competitions.
Landmark New Sponsorships
Cricket Canada attracted an impressive array of dynamic new sponsorships from top brands, including Coca-Cola, TD Bank, A&W, Nissan, and No Frills. These partnerships have not only elevated the profile of Cricket Canada’s National Teams but have also enabled critical investments in grassroots programs, development, and the nationwide promotion of the sport. This new corporate support is helping to ensure a strong framework for cricket’s long-term growth and sustainability across Canada.
International Series on Home Soil
Canada hosted its first international series since 2015 with the debut of the No Frills T20 Cup at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in King City, Ontario. Team Canada secured seven victories out of eight matches against Nepal and Oman across both ODI and T20 formats. Thousands of Canadian fans filled the stadium, creating an electrifying atmosphere that showcased the sport’s excitement and set a new standard for cricket events on home soil.
Record Fan Engagement: Uniting Cricket Enthusiasts Across Canada
Highlighted by record-breaking attendance at the No Frills T20 Cup, support for cricket in Canada reached unprecedented levels in 2024.
Cricket Canada reported record viewership for the ICC T20 World Cup with more than 75 Million global viewers watching Canadian matches. Cricket Canada’s social platforms achieved unprecedented growth with a 300+% increase in audience interaction, video views and overall engagement.
Outlook for 2025: Building on a Historic Year
Boundaries North and Cricket Canada are committed to building on the achievements of 2024 with an expanded international event schedule, increased community engagement, and continued support from corporate partners.
In 2025, both Canada’s Men's and Women's cricket teams will participate in significant international competitions. The Women’s National Team will compete in the ICC World Cup Americas Qualifier in Argentina, with the opportunity to secure ODI status and advance to the Global Qualifier. Meanwhile, the Men’s National Team will play pivotal ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 and T20 qualifying matches along with a highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series on home soil this summer.
About Boundaries North
Boundaries North is dedicated to promoting and supporting the growth of cricket in Canada, aiming to make it a leading sport that unites communities and inspires the next generation of players and fans. Through innovative partnerships, events, and grassroots programs, Boundaries North is working to make cricket accessible and exciting for all Canadians.
Cricket in Canada Celebrates a Historic Year of International Success, Record Partnerships, and Growing Fanbase (Photo: Business Wire)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.
Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.
Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”
Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”
Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.
“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”
He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”
Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.
More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.
Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.
In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.
Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”
Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.
“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.
The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.
The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.
Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)
