“Not the end, just the beginning”: Cricket Canada President Amjad Bajwa after Canada qualifies for ICC Men's 2026 T20 World Cup

Canada qualified for the 20-team 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka, after defeating the Bahamas by seven wickets in the Americas Qualifiers in Ontario. 

Commenting on the development, Cricket Canada President Amjad Bajwa shared his excitement while speaking to DARPAN.

Bajwa said, “This marks a second historic opportunity for the nation's cricket journey, and this will put Canada on the world cricketing map. Canadian players and cricket culture will gain exposure through international broadcasting and coverage, which most likely will lead to sponsorships.  We can also expect more pitches, stadium upgrades, and training centers across provinces.”

Speaking about ICC Men’s T20 World Cup paving way for Canadian youth, Bajwa said, “This opportunity will lead to better systems for scouting, training, and nurturing young talent, and young Canadians from cricketing backgrounds (e.g., South Asian, Caribbean cultures, etc.) will see a path for national representation. Cricket could see new integration in school curricula and college leagues.”

 

“Qualifying for the World Cup may also result in us co-hosting tournaments and attracting international fixtures, especially in North America,” added Bajwa.

Canada’s recent win was their fifth consecutive victory in the four-team tournament, which also featured Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. This flawless performance guarantees them the top spot in the group, regardless of how the remaining matches play out.

This will be Canada’s second T20 World Cup appearance, having qualified for the 2024 edition in the West Indies and the USA via the same regional pathway.

Canada now stands alongside other qualified nations, including India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, the USA, and the West Indies. Seven more teams will earn their places through upcoming qualifiers in Europe, Africa, and the Asia-East Asia-Pacific regions.

Hosting the qualifiers and with the USA already having secured a spot, Canada entered as favourites—and they lived up to expectations. Their victories came with emphatic margins: 110 runs, 59 runs, 10 wickets, 42 runs, and 7 wickets. In their latest match, they dismissed the Bahamas for just 57 runs in 19.5 overs.