What it takes for Canadian cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League

With cricket one of the fastest growing sports in Canada, it is only natural for Canadians of South Asian origin to wonder what it takes for Canadian cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League.

And the answer is a resounding yes – if young cricketers work hard and make the most of the opportunities provided to them, according to South African cricket Calvin Savage, who was in Brampton for the opening of Canada’s first Chennai Super Kings academy.

“Anyone can play in the IPL,” said Savage, who plays for the Texas Super Kings, a Twenty20 franchise owned by the Chennai Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC), the top-flight cricket league in the United States. “If you have talent, work hard, put yourself in the right positions, and take your chances when they come, nothing stops you — even if you’re Canadian. And even beyond the IPL, there are so many franchise leagues around the world. I don’t think there has ever been this much opportunity for associate-level players.”

One of the best pathways to feature in Major League Cricket is through Minor League Cricket, a US-based setup that operates as a feeder for MLC teams, providing the training and exposure to succeed on the biggest stage. Savage hopes that one day, Canadian players will be able to take part in US leagues as domestic players – an agreement that is currently in place in Major League Soccer – and makes it easier for Canadian players to access opportunities.

How does one access these leagues?

Children who have aspirations of following in the footsteps of heroes such as MS Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chris Gayle, and other legends of the game need to get registered in academies that have those connections, and parents need to do their due diligence before signing them up.

“it would be great if opportunities like that emerged,” he said. “In many major sports in the US, American and Canadian athletes compete together without overseas restrictions. We’ll see how cricket evolves in that direction.”

However, he asked parents to not put undue pressure on their children to succeed.

“The number one thing — and I always hammer this home — is actually a message for the parents,” he explained. “I want parents to go out of their way to play with their kids. It’s not a parent’s job to force a child to play. Our job is to introduce them to the game and make sure they’re enjoying themselves. But the desire to get better has to come from the child. We shouldn’t try to live our dreams through them — our time has passed. Introduce the game, encourage them, and play with them when they ask. But real development has to come from the child, not from parental pressure.”

Who is Calvin Savage?

An all-rounder, 32-year-old Savage played for the South African Under-19 team and then played first-class cricket in South Africa for 11 seasons, making his debut at the age of 18. He is now contracted as a player and coach to the Texas Super Kings, and while in Canada, ran coaching clinics for young cricketers at CSK’s academy.

“Playing first-class cricket there was incredible — the system and level of competition taught me so much,” he said. “It also prepared me for playing in associate nations because you spend a lot of time training on your own. I learned discipline, self-management, and how to understand my game. All of that helped me tremendously once I moved into my American cricket journey.”