T20 World Cup 2026: Canada has officially announced their squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and has handed the captaincy to young batter Dilpreet Bajwa. This will be Canada’s second appearance at a T20 World Cup, and the team will be aiming to build on the experience gained from the 2024 edition.
Along with the change in leadership, the squad also includes a former IPL player, adding valuable experience ahead of the marquee tournament in India.
Canada Qualify After Unbeaten Run in Americas Region
Canada secured their spot in the T20 World Cup 2026 by winning the Americas Regional Final. The team remained unbeaten throughout the six-match tournament, showing consistency and confidence under pressure.
This will be Canada’s second T20 World Cup appearance after making their debut in the 2024 edition. In the upcoming tournament, they have been placed in a challenging group alongside South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and the UAE.
Canada will begin their campaign against South Africa on February 9 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Dilpreet Bajwa Named Captain for Second T20 World Cup Appearance
Twenty-two-year-old Dilpreet Bajwa has been named captain for Canada’s second straight T20 World Cup. Despite his young age, Bajwa already has decent international experience, having played nine ODIs and 17 T20Is for Canada.
He has scored close to 400 international runs, including four half-centuries, and has made a strong impact in the shortest format. Bajwa has also impressed in Canada’s T10 league, where he played explosive innings of 57 off 18 balls and 68 not out off 22 deliveries.
Young opener Yuvraj Samra is expected to play a key role at the top of the order, thanks to his aggressive strike rate. The squad also includes experienced players such as former captain Saad Bin Zafar, along with Kaleem Sana, Dilon Heyliger, Nicholas Kirton, and Navneet Dhaliwal.
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A Squad With Strong Indian and Pakistani Roots
Canada revealed their squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. With most of their matches scheduled in India, the squad features several players with Indian and Pakistani backgrounds.
Over the years, some Canadian players have faced visa challenges due to their Pakistani passports. The current squad reflects a blend of talent from both Indian and Pakistani origins. Former captain Saad Bin Zafar is of Pakistani origin, while new skipper Dilpreet Bajwa comes from an Indian background.
This mix has become a unique identity for Canadian cricket and highlights the diversity within the team.
Canada T20 World Cup 2026 Squad List
Canada T20 World Cup squad: Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Dilon Heyliger, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskarandeep Buttar, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, and Yuvraj Samra.
Former PBKS Player Ansh Patel Earns World Cup Spot
Spinner Ansh Patel is one of the notable inclusions in Canada’s World Cup squad. He has previous experience in India, having been picked by the Punjab Kings during the IPL 2022 season, although he did not get a chance to play a match.
Born in Vadodara, Gujarat, in 2002, Patel is a left-arm spinner who previously played under-19 cricket for Baroda before moving to Canada. He has represented Canada in five T20I matches and has taken five wickets, with best figures of 2 for 7.
The 23-year-old will be making his T20 World Cup debut, and the tournament in India will also mark a special homecoming for him as he looks to make an impact on the global stage.
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