High-performance cricket pitch outside Winnipeg 'a dream come true' for Manitoba players
"This was kind of a dream for every cricketer in Manitoba," said Paramjit Shahi, president of the Manitoba Cricket Association.
Shahi said cricket players have been gathering at the La Barrière Park ever since construction started on a high-performance pitch in 2018. The grounds have now grown to include two more high-performance pitches, four practice nets and a batting cage, the city said in a news release on Saturday.
Shahi said the project would not have been possible without support from the city, province and non-profit organizations like Cricket Canada.
The project has received more than $1.1 million in funding from the city for installation, ongoing maintenance and new signage. The new fields were built on public land that is leased by the Manitoba Cricket Association.
Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes, whose ward contributed nearly $950,000 to the project, said the park is set to become the "epicentre of cricket in Manitoba."
La Barrière Park is owned by the city, but since it is located on the southern outskirts of the city, it is not under the jurisdiction of any specific ward councillor. The project also involved funding from St. Norbert-Seine River Coun. Markus Chambers, St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes, Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma, and St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard.
"Cricket is far more than just a game," Lukes said during the grand opening ceremony on Saturday. "It brings people together, it brings countries together. And we play, we have fun and in a very positive way."
Milan Dave was playing in the tournament, which included teams from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, on Saturday. He said he has been playing cricket since he was a child and is driven by a passion for the game.
Dave moved from India to Toronto in 2016, eventually settling in Winnipeg a few years ago. He's been playing cricket at La Barrière Park ever since.
"I have played with different provinces, and what I can say is these fields are amazing …" Dave said.
"As a player, I would say it only elevates your game," he said of the high-performance pitch.
Manoj Chaudhari, a past board member with the Manitoba Cricket Association, said the newly-opened grounds will serve as the association's main venue while the cricket pitch at Assiniboine Park remains under construction.
"It's been a long time coming, it's taken a lot of hard work," Chaudhari said. "We do appreciate all levels of government helping us with this."
Chaudhari said he has seen the sport's popularity bloom from just a handful of teams in the province to nearly 70 in 2025. He said the association has plans to build three more pitches in Manitoba.
Shahi said it was wonderful to see so many players on the park's pitches on Saturday.
"It's a beautiful grounds. A lot of players are playing here from other provinces, they appreciate how good [the] grounds are here," he said, adding cricket groups across Canada have been asking his 1,600-member association for advice on expanding the sport in other provinces.
"We are very excited. This is a dream come true for the Manitoba Cricket Association."
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