Canada name training squad

Cricket Canada has named 21 players to a training squad in preparation for the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 to be held in Uganda from May 21 – 31, 2017. The squad mixes experience with players who performed well with the high performance squad in Bermuda in the fall. Srimantha Wijeratne captained the HP squad, and also has performed well for the national team, but will contend with Calgary’s Hamza Tariq for starting wicket-keeper. 29 year old Ammar Khalid who impressed against Bermuda will be in consideration for his pace bowling – but will face strong competition from Cecil Pervez, Satsimranjit Dhindsa, and Durand Soraine. Familiar names include former captains Jimmy Hansra and Rizwan Cheema (now nearly 39), along with current captain Nitish Kumar. Ruvindu Gunasekara is included in the squad, despite moving to Sri Lanka in the fall in an attempt to play Test cricket for the country of his birth – he has been playing first-class cricket this winter and while known for his batting has also been successful with the ball. Mark Montford also impressed with the HP squad and has all round talent, a useful batsman and off-spin bowler. Nikhil Dutta, Junaid Siddiqui, Salman Nazar, and Saad Bin Zafar will also be contending for spin bowling spots in the final roster. Shehan Kamileen debuted for Canada in the Auty Cup and remains in consideration as does 17 year-old Bhavindu Adhihetty. Former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Dhanuka Pathirana (who once made 277 in a English league T20 match) is now eligible to play for Canada and joins the squad. Big fast bowling all-rounder Dillon Heyliger is not selected, despite impressing with the HP team and in the Auty Cup.
Full squad

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