The Yukon Cricket League's third season kicked off in Whitehorse with a vibrant opening ceremony on May 17, inaugurated by Yukon Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke.
"Three years ago, the idea of a cricket league in the North may have been ambitious, but today in reality, driven by players, organizers, volunteers and fans, you have been building something special. To all the players gathered here today, you are pioneers. You brought a global force into the heart of our territory and made it your own," Clarke said.
"Remember that the joy of sport lies not only in the talent, but in the camaraderie found on the field."
Addressing the Yukon cricket community, Clarke proudly praised the league’s progress, noting that while it remains in a phase of growth, the league has flourished through the "perseverance and passion" of its players and organizers, qualities he described as driving the cricket league's rise since being formally re-established as a competitive league three years ago.
"Many might be surprised to learn that cricket has a long history in Canada. The game was played in Canada as early as 1785 in Montreal," Clarke said.
Clarke delivered his remarks on the grounds of Christ the King Elementary on Saturday morning at approximately 8:45 a.m. among the league's five teams and the cricket community before the tournament began with the Whitehorse Kings and Whitehorse Panthers facing off for the first match.
The tournament concluded with the Whitehorse Hunters clinching the league's championship title during the final match against the Whitehorse Kings on May 18. The Hunters secured victory by 23 runs, capping off a weekend of high-energy cricket and community celebration.
Manjot Malhar of the Hunters was named player of the match for his pivotal all-round performance in the final. League director Aashique Shaikh told the News Malhar's contributions with both bat and ball proved decisive in steering his team to the championship.
Individual accolades were also awarded, with Raman Beniwal of the Kings earning both best batsman and player of the tournament honours. Monu of the Panthers took home best bowler, while Param of the Hunters was recognized as best fielder for his standout defensive efforts.
"What we witnessed this weekend is not just the growth of a sport but the growth of a passionate community. Cricket has truly taken root here and we are just getting started,” said Shaikh.
Now in its third year, the Yukon Cricket League has expanded from four to five teams, with about 80 players between the ages of 20 and 35, according to league vice-president Nikhil Sharma. Organizers are planning further growth through youth programs and inter-territorial tournaments, including potential matches in Alberta and British Columbia.
The league, currently played in a softball format, is steadily working toward transitioning to leather ball cricket for future league tournaments. Sharma acknowledged the need for improved safety gear and coaching support, noting that the league is actively seeking backing to expand facilities and develop stronger youth programming and competitive training for more seasoned players.
"We have a lot of players and very good prospects. Some players are younger, some players are experienced, some of these guys have played leather cricket before but we have a three-player pool here. I'm sure there are some more players that definitely we can develop a good 15-player score and compete in Alberta," Sharma said.
Shaikh told the News that youth programming is being planned by the Yukon Cricket League first seeking guidance from Cricket Canada. While details and timelines remain limited at this stage, he said league organizers hope to overcome resource and coaching challenges to engage younger players and grow the sport’s presence among the Yukon’s communities.
"We want to get associated with Cricket Canada, since we are doing a league on a good structure, in a good, positive way right now, so I think it's the time to reach them," Shaikh said.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
