The ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has seen many upsets, and the much-anticipated match between Canada and Pakistan on June 11th will be an interesting game. Pakistan is the team that seems to need a victory to avoid an official elimination from the tournament. Canada being one of the teams with one win under their belt will be a team that will be looking forward to mix up their lot and start up in the Super 8 stage. Notably, some Indian-Canadian players can prove to be game changers for Canada.
Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Full Super 8 Qualification Scenario Explained
1. Navneet Dhaliwal
Born in Chandigarh, India, Navneet Dhaliwal is a right handed top order batsman, who regularly uses aggression to represent his talents. The T20 World Cup 2024 started on a bright note for Dhaliwal; she scored a wonderful 61 runs off just 44 balls against the USA in the first match. Opener Dhaliwal, matched well with this array, scoring a brilliant fifty comprising 6 fours and 3 sixes to contribute greatly towards Canada’s competitive score of 194. The fact remains that, although he has not been able to do a repeat of that sort of performance against Ireland, one cannot deny his statistics in other matches.
2. Shreyas Movva
Canadian wicketkeeper, Shreyas Movva has proved to be an important player. Compared to the USA, he showed great cricketing skills and cameos and against the USA he made a scintillating 32 off just 16 including 2 sixes in the last over.
He played an extremely useful knock against Ireland. Batting to the team’s delicate condition with 53/4 in the 9th over, Movva exhibited a mature awareness to score 37 runs off only 36 deliveries. Together with Nicholas Kirton he put a vital addition of 75 runs, nonetheless, Canada managed to set a well-admirable total of 137 for victory. Considering, Movva as a reliable fast scoring batsman who also brings solidity in the middle order fits perfectly into the requirements that the Canadian side needs in their batting line-up.
3. Dilpreet Bajwa
Although, Dilpreet Bajwa has not been able to deliver his best perhaps due to poor performance. In the T20 World Cup 2024 he has scored only 18 runs so far but he should not be taken lightly. A muscular batsman, Bajwa can look quite lethal for his team if he gets sets in the middle order.
However, Bajwa was consistent in the bilateral series held before the World Cup against USA, where she scored 89 runs in 3 games. In the past, he showcased his power through a magnificent 61-run knock against Malaysia in the Hong Kong Tri Series early this year. Batting appears to be Canada’s greatest strength so far although Bajwa will have to get his play against Pakistan to impetus a decent middle-order for the team.
The inclusion of these three players gives a different flavor to Canadians having Indian origin in their country. Having such background behind their backs coupled with the willingness and eagerness to play those games at the highest level could turn into a real shocker. As Pakistan prepares to take on Canada, the players to watch are Dhaliwal, Movva, and Bajwa, who could be the team’s surprise players.
