Canada announce 15-member T20 World Cup 2024 squad loaded with 7 Indian and 3 Pakistani players

Cricket Canada has unveiled their official 15-member squad and five reserves for the T20 World Cup 2024's squad, marking their maiden appearance in the showpiece tournament, which is set to start from June 2. 

Saad Bin Zafar to lead Canada's pack

Skipper Saad Bin Zafar, a seasoned campaigner, will spearhead the Canadian pack. Notably, seven India-based (Harsh Thaker, Dilpreet Bajwa, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh and Shreyas Movva) and three Pakistan-based (Junaid Siddiqui, Saad Bin Zafar, Kaleem Sana) players have been included in Canada's T20 World Cup 2024's squad. Canada's T20 World Cup squad for 2024 is a strategic mix of experience and fresh talent. The core of the team features seasoned campaigners, providing stability and leadership. Canada hasn't overlooked raw talent as four of their players are below the age of 30.

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Among these young prospects are Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, and Dilpreet Bajwa. Each brings their unique skills and youthful exuberance to the squad. Notably, Thaker and Kirton have already carved their niche within the Canadian lineup, becoming integral members of the playing eleven.

Experience doesn't stop at the captaincy. Veteran left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar leads the team, offering invaluable guidance and strategic expertise.

Players to watch out for

Moreover, Aaron Johnson's aggressive batting style promises to be a powerful weapon at the top of the batting order.

Canada's bowling attack boasts the pace of left-arm seamer Kaleem Sana. Meanwhile, the all-round abilities of Bin Zafar, Thaker, and Dilon Heyliger provide valuable depth and flexibility to the team. Their skills will be crucial for Canada's success in the upcoming tournament.

With this blend of experience and youthful spirit, Canada sets its sights on making a mark on the global stage. Their debut appearance at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA presents a historic opportunity, and the confident Canadian cricket team is determined to rise to the challenge. Pubudu Dassanayake, a former Sri Lankan and Canadian cricketer himself, took charge as coach in 2022 and will be leading the team's strategy.

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Canada's T20 World Cup 2024 squad

Saad Bin Zafar (c), 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.

Canada will open their T20 World Cup 2024's campaign on June 1 in Dallas against their neighbors and the host nation, the USA. This will be a rematch, as the Americans recently secured a series win against Canada in early April. Canada find themselves in a competitive Group A alongside powerhouses like India and Pakistan. After facing USA, Canada will lock horns with Ireland on June 7 followed by a match against Pakistan on June 11. They will conclude their group stage with a challenge against India on June 15. These matches will be played across the Caribbean and USA, with the tournament kicking off on June 2.

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Beyond Canada's group, the tournament features a total of 16 teams divided into four groups. Group B pits England and Australia against Namibia, Scotland, and Oman.  Group C sees the West Indies hosting New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea.  Rounding out the competition, Group D features South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal.

Notably, a total of 16 matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in Lauderhill, Dallas, and New York within the USA. The remaining 41 matches will take place across six different Caribbean islands, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Barbados.

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