Canada has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, with rising star Dilpreet Bajwa named captain for the tournament.
The 22-year-old Bajwa, who turns 23 later this month, will make his captaincy debut on cricket's biggest stage. Despite his young age, Bajwa brings valuable experience with nine ODIs and 17 T20Is under his belt, along with an impressive strike rate of 133.22 in the shortest format.
"Dilpreet has shown tremendous maturity and leadership qualities," said a Cricket Canada spokesperson. "His recent performances, including knocks of 57 off 18 balls and an unbeaten 68 off 22 in our domestic Super 60 T10 tournament, demonstrate the kind of firepower he brings to the team."
Canada earned its spot in the tournament by dominating the T20 World Cup Americas Regional Final, going unbeaten through all six matches. This will be the nation's second appearance at a T20 World Cup, following their 2024 debut where they secured a memorable victory over Ireland while finishing fourth in Group A.
The squad features a blend of experience and youth, with former captain Saad Bin Zafar providing veteran leadership alongside proven performers like pace bowler Kaleem Sana, all-rounder Dilon Heyliger, and batsmen Nicholas Kirton and Navneet Dhaliwal.
Big-hitting opener Yuvraj Samra adds firepower to the batting lineup, having smashed 27 sixes in just 15 T20I innings with a strike rate of 160.72—a crucial weapon in the explosive T20 format.
However, Canada faces a formidable challenge in Group D, drawn alongside cricketing powerhouses South Africa, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, as well as the UAE. All of Canada's group matches will be played in India.
The campaign begins on February 9 against South Africa in Ahmedabad, followed by matches against the UAE on February 13 and New Zealand on February 17. Canada will conclude its group-stage fixtures against Afghanistan on February 19.
Canada's 15-Member Squad:
Dilpreet Bajwa (captain), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Dilon Heyliger, Harsh Thaker, Jaskarandeep Buttar, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, Yuvraj Samra.
While the odds may be steep, Canada's fearless qualification campaign has shown they're capable of competing with anyone on their day. As they prepare to take on some of cricket's biggest names, Bajwa and his team will be hoping to create more memorable moments for Canadian cricket.
Picture Courtesy: X/ Cricket Canada
