NEW DELHI: Cricket Canada has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, marking the North American nation's maiden participation in the prestigious tournament.
All-rounder Saad Bin Zafar has been appointed as the captain, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to the Canadian side.
The squad features a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising talents, with a strong emphasis on delivering a competitive performance on the global stage. Alongside skipper Saad, the likes of batter Aaron Johnson and pacer Kaleem Sana are expected to play crucial roles in Canada's campaign.
Despite the squad's depth, notable exclusions were witnessed, with Nikhil Dutta and Srimantha Wijeyeratne failing to secure spots in the final 15. Tajinder Singh has been named as the reserve player, providing backup during the tournament.
With the T20 World Cup set to commence, Canada find themselve in a challenging group alongside co-hosts USA, cricketing powerhouses India and Pakistan, and Ireland. The North American team faces a stern test against formidable opponents, as they aim to make a mark in their debut appearance.
The tournament opener for Canada is slated against arch-rivals USA on June 1 in Dallas, a clash that promises to ignite intense rivalry and captivate cricket enthusiasts. The fixture holds added significance following USA's recent victory in a bilateral series between the two nations in early April, setting the stage for a compelling showdown on the T20 World Cup stage.
Canada's ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Saad Bin Zafar (Captain), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva.
Reserves: Tajinder Singh, Aaditya Varadharajan, Ammar Khalid, Jatinder Matharu, Parveen Kumar.
(With inputs from ANI)
