Eddie Norfolk
Remembrance Day 2013 sees the Canadian men’s squad facing the first of two vitally important international qualifying competitions where success is essential for the future of cricket in Canada. The ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier opens on Friday November 15, 2013 in the United Arab Emirates with six of sixteen teams advancing to play in Bangladesh in March 2014. Then in January 2013, Canada will be in the hunt in the 50-overs version qualifier for one of just two qualifying places for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Success in these two qualifying competitions is essential from the perspective of retaining Canada’s place and related sponsorship funds in the International Cricket Council’s High Performance Program.
Hope for the Twenty20 qualifier rests upon the players, coach and support staff who have been at work in preparations in Sri Lanka. Wins in Twenty20 warm-up games in the UAE in the next couple of days against Afghanistan (Nov 12) and Bermuda (Nov 13) would be a useful boost for confidence, following last week’s T20 win against Scotland. Further ahead, sensible squad selection for the qualifier in New Zealand may then become a pre-requisite in the Canadian mix for the 50-over World Cup qualifier.
In the Twenty20 Qualifier the top team in each of two qualifying groups automatically qualify for the Bangladesh tournament next March. It may be possible to advance to Bangladesh from a qualifying group position as lowly as fifth place from cross-over group action in the knockout phase to determine the other four qualifiers. This might not be ideal, but the key issue is to qualify for the March 2014 event in Bangladesh.
In a recent ICC Media Release, Canadian captain, Ashish Bagai, held a similar opinion: “Being a Twenty20 short format competition you obviously go in there to finish on top. Our first goal is, however, to qualify, but if you get that far there is no reason any of the top six Associate countries can’t win the tournament.”
Bagai added “In saying that, it is not going to be easy. We haven’t had the results we would have wanted in the last year or so. We know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but we are absolutely going in there to win the tournament.”
Good starts to Twenty20 innings, whether batting or bowling, can have a tremendous impact but if there is a disappointing result due to an opponent having somewhere between a good or an excellent day, then the show must go on. Learn from mistakes, and move forward to the next game.
The playing skills of some players in this tournament may not be too well known by those from other countries (notwithstanding any selection quirks that may or may not exist). The possibility of a stellar feat by a “mystery” batsman or might exist to upset expectations in some of these short games. Canada’s Kenneth Kamyuka, for example, emerged as a useful bowler for Uganda in the 2001 ICC Trophy, but also thumped a century against Malaysia batting late in the order in an early game.
Canada’s Twenty20 Qualifying challenge begins with a Group A game against the USA on Friday (Nov 15) at the Sheikh Stadium, Abu Dhabi. On Saturday (Nov 16) comes a big challenge with a game against Ireland, who Bagai sees as favourites in Canada’s qualifying group. But favourites are there to be beaten, which will be Canada’s hope.
Ireland’s campaign begins with games against Namibia, Canada and then the UAE on the first three days that could form the basis of a solid tournament – with three wins – or pose a challenge of recovering against the “lesser lights” if two or three of those games were lost. Anyone fancy three ties for Ireland in these opening games?
Canada’s third group game is against Hong Kong on Monday November 18, followed next day by a game against Uganda. Friday November 22 sees Canada meet hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a key game that is followed by a match against Namibia next day. Namibia were one of the surprise packet teams of the 2001 ICC Trophy hosted by the Canadian Cricket Association in the Greater Toronto Area, and have held a place in the higher ranks of the ICC Associate countries ever since. Proximity to South Africa allows participation in some games against South African opposition for the Namibians.
Canada conclude group play against Italy. Italy never quite made it to the 2001 ICC Trophy and are the only one of the sixteen countries participating in this World Twenty20 Qualifier that I have not yet seen play cricket. Ted Dexter, the former England and Sussex captain, was born in Milan, Italy. Dexter lead Sussex to domestic success in the early years of the Gillette Cup. A competition that began as one day cricket played with 65 overs a side. The overs were reduced to 60 overs a side.
Broader personal experience and travel from the 1980’s onwards has made me aware that one could not play 60 overs a side in one day during daylight hours in several countries or parts of countries that are closer to the equator. Although the English summer did allow the potential of 15- and 20-over games on summer evenings; well before Twenty20 cricket became highly commercialized in some cricket playing countries.
High commercialization and over commercialization of cricket are not features of the current scene within Canadian cricket, despite success on the field from the 2001 ICC Trophy onwards and an expanding base of players, including junior players. Many of whom have emerged from various club and private cricket academies rather than from a comprehensive development program. Financial constraints hit the efforts of some of those volunteers who tried to develop and promote Canadian cricket over the last 20, 30 or even 40 years.
There remains quite a way to go in some key areas of Canadian cricket administration, but for now the future prospects of Canadian cricket hinge on the efforts of the Canadian players, coach and support staff who are in the UAE. In a couple of months, probably most of the current squad will be in New Zealand to carry the torch of Canadian cricket onward. May the light of knowledge and wisdom be with the Canadian players and bring success during this vital period for Canadian cricket.
If Canada does win Group A, then issues about playing knock-out games in this World Twenty20 Qualifier would have little relevance. But, for the record, Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bermuda, Denmark, Kenya, Nepal, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and Scotland.  Canada could end up playing some of these if first place is not secured from Group A round-robin action.   
　
Eddie Norfolk,
November 11, 2013.