Manitoba's Cricket Hub Undergoes Significant Renovations

Manitoba’s cricket community is seeing a major upgrade to its home base.

Extensive renovations are underway at the cricket field in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park to meet the demands of one of Canada’s fastest-growing sports.

Nigel Wilcox, a cricket player and president of the Winnipeg Taverners Cricket Club, noted that the current playing fields are not up to the required standard for high-level cricket, emphasising the need for a better playing area.

The planned improvements include new batting and bowling cages, as well as natural grass surfaces known as wickets. The project, costing $1.6 million, is funded by Cricket Canada and the Manitoba government.

Laura Cabak, communications and public relations director for the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, explained that the project involves redesigning and upgrading the existing field. Previously, there were three fields in one area, but the plan is to consolidate them into two full-size pitches meeting international standards.

Cabak detailed the enhancements, which include replacing the turf, installing an irrigation system, and building new batting and bowling cages. The last upgrade to the field was in 1967 for the PanAm Games.

Nilay Shah, a player with the Cosmos Cricket Club, expressed that the improved facilities will directly benefit the players. He acknowledged that the upgrades are long overdue but welcomed the changes.

Due to the ongoing construction, Shah and his fellow Cosmos Cricket Club members travelled to the West Indies this summer to watch the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup, fulfilling a dream, especially as newcomers who found a sense of community through cricket in Canada.

Saif Baloch shared that cricket helped him settle into a new country and build lifelong friendships. Ray Ramrattan, president of Cosmos, mentioned that their team represents five different countries: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Guyana, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Assiniboine Park team aims to foster community spirit with the new upgrades. Cabak remarked on the high interest in the park’s future and the exciting developments for cricket.

Construction on the new cricket facilities began this past spring, but players will have to wait until 2026 to return to the field. Wilcox anticipated that it would be a beautiful field to play on.