Saad Bin Zafar batting for Canada (Eddie Norfolk)

The Global T20 concluded today with the Vancouver Knights taking the top honours with a 7 wicket win over West Indies B. The Vancouver Knights have some big names – notably Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Tim Southee but the man of the match was clearly the one Canadian taking part. Thirty-one year old Saad Bin Zafar has been a national team regular for 10 years with his slow left arm bowling, and he would be pleased with his 4 overs, two wickets, conceding 26 runs, but he was somewhat overshadowed by Pakistan born, Australian qualified Fawad Ahmed with 3/24, and Jamaican Sheldon Cottrell with 4/29 as West Indies B were bowled out for 145.

Saad Bin Zafar has shown he can bat for Canada, but never as he did in this match. Coming in after the Knights had lost 3 wickets for 22 runs, he hit 79 from 48 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, giving the Knights an easy win with 2.3 overs to spare.
It is perhaps appropriate, albeit surprising, that the final match of the tournament was dominated by a Canadian, and this offers hope for the role of the tournament in developing Canadian cricket. That will of course depend on the tournament returning next year- and that may be more probable with the final finally being graced by a good crowd.