Sports Streaming
How to Watch Cricket in Canada (2026)
Cricket has one of the fastest-growing audiences in Canada, driven by South Asian, Caribbean, Sri Lankan and Afghan communities across the Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal. It is also one of the more awkward sports to follow here, because coverage sits outside the mainstream Canadian sports networks entirely. Willow holds ICC broadcast and digital rights in Canada through the end of 2027, and the rest is scattered across league-specific platforms.
Key takeaways
- Willow holds ICC rights in Canada through the end of 2027, covering the World Cups and major tournaments.
- TSN and Sportsnet do not carry meaningful cricket coverage.
- The IPL, Big Bash and Pakistan Super League sit with various platforms, Willow among them.
- Matches from India, Australia and the UK all land overnight or very early morning in Canada.
- TiviLeaf includes South Asian and international sports channels from $9 CAD/month.
Where Cricket Airs in Canada
| Competition | Where it airs | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| ICC World Cups (T20 and ODI) | Willow | Varies by cycle |
| ICC Champions Trophy | Willow | Varies |
| Indian Premier League | Willow and league platforms | March to May |
| Big Bash League | Willow and league platforms | December to January |
| Pakistan Super League | Willow and league platforms | February to March |
| Test series | Varies by host board | Year-round |
The complication is that bilateral Test and ODI series are sold by the home board rather than centrally, so an England home series and an India home series can end up on entirely different platforms in Canada. This is why no single subscription covers everything.
The Time-Zone Problem
Cricket is the most time-shifted sport a Canadian can follow. Test matches run five days at five to six hours a day, and almost none of it happens at a Canadian-friendly hour:
| Host country | Local start | Eastern | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| India (day match) | 9:30 a.m. IST | 12:00 a.m. | 9:00 p.m. (prev. day) |
| India (IPL evening) | 7:30 p.m. IST | 10:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m. |
| Australia (day) | 10:30 a.m. AEDT | 6:30 p.m. (prev. day) | 3:30 p.m. (prev. day) |
| England (day) | 11:00 a.m. BST | 6:00 a.m. | 3:00 a.m. |
| Caribbean (day) | 10:00 a.m. AST | 9:00 a.m. | 6:00 a.m. |
Two useful patterns: IPL evening matches land at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, which is the single most convenient regular cricket slot for Canadian viewers, and Australian day matches air in Canadian prime time the evening before. West Indies cricket is the only major host in a broadly Canadian-friendly window.
Why Replay Access Matters More Here Than Anywhere
A Test match is roughly thirty hours of play over five days. Nobody watches that live from Canada. The realistic approach is to follow the highlights and watch the sessions that matter on catch-up, which makes a replay window more valuable than additional live channels.
Options
- Willow: the primary route to ICC events in Canada, available as a subscription and through some television providers.
- League platforms: individual competitions sell direct, which adds up quickly if you follow several.
- TiviLeaf IPTV: includes South Asian and international sports channels alongside the Canadian lineup from $9 CAD per month, with a 7-day replay window. Plans and pricing are listed at tivileaf.com/#pricing.
Watching in Your Home Language
Commentary language matters more in cricket than in most sports, and many Canadian viewers specifically want Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali or Urdu commentary rather than the English feed. Check that the specific commentary feed you want is available before subscribing to anything — it is frequently a separate channel rather than an audio option. Our international channels guide covers the wider South Asian lineup.
Best Devices for Watching
- Amazon Firestick / Fire TV: the most common streaming stick in Canadian homes. See the Fire TV setup guide.
- Samsung and LG smart TVs: app support built in, no extra box needed. See the Samsung guide or the LG guide.
- Apple TV: the smoothest option for 4K streams. See the Apple TV guide.
- Android TV, Google TV and NVIDIA Shield: including budget boxes like the Walmart onn. See the Google TV guide.
- iPhone, iPad and Android phones: for watching on the move or on a second screen.
FAQ
Where can I watch cricket in Canada?
Willow holds ICC broadcast and digital rights in Canada through the end of 2027, covering the World Cups and major ICC tournaments. Bilateral series are sold by the home board, so they vary by platform. TSN and Sportsnet do not carry meaningful cricket coverage.
What time is the IPL in Canada?
IPL evening matches start at 7:30 p.m. India time, which is 10:00 a.m. Eastern and 7:00 a.m. Pacific. It is the most convenient regular cricket slot available to Canadian viewers.
Can I watch cricket with Hindi or Punjabi commentary in Canada?
Often, but the commentary language is usually a separate channel rather than an audio option on the English feed. Check that the specific feed you want is carried before subscribing.
Why is cricket not on TSN or Sportsnet?
The Canadian rights sit with Willow and various league platforms rather than the domestic sports networks. Cricket has a large but community-concentrated Canadian audience, which has kept it outside the mainstream sports broadcasters.