World Cup Cricket. Three words that have traditionally been met with trepidation by ardent Canadian Cricket fans, desperate for a light at the end of the tunnel – a silver lining to a never ending storm-cloud – or simply a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. For you see, success on the biggest stage for Cricket Canada has been about as rare as a fast, bouncy pitch on the sub continent. At senior level, in 11 attempts Canada has only featured in 4 world cups. Seems a reasonable effort for a country where Cricket is regularly referred to as ‘that sport for rich people and immigrants’ by the true Canada sports fan, with hockey stick in hand and Blue Jays hat on head. Though upon closer inspection it’s a rather sombre story. 3 of those 4 appearances came in years where the ICC ‘softened’ the talent pool, and allowed 14-16 teams into the world cup – a far cry from the 10 teams that will be given entrance into the 2019 edition in England. Qualification into the 1979 tournament in England was an impressive feat, considering there were only 8 teams invited. That, along with Australian expat John Davidson’s century off 67 balls in the 2003 world cup (at the time the fastest century in world cup history), victory over Bangladesh in South Africa 2003 and a win over Kenya in India 2011 rank as Canada’s only renowned World Cup achievements.
But that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow could well lie in Canada’s 2016 under 19 world cup team, a squad featuring a sprinkling of potential. Captain Abraash Khan this week ahead of the event launch promised his squad isn’t travelling to Bangladesh just to make up the numbers…though given Canada’s highest under 19 world cup finish is 11th from 4 attempts, there isn’t yet a great amount of precedent to back up this claim.
The captain, the coach and the players won’t be thinking this, but maybe, just maybe, it isn’t about how many W’s end up in the column at the end of this tournament. There’s a bigger picture as far as Canadian Cricket is concerned – and that bigger picture is the 2019 senior world cup in England. Canada’s squad will be 22-23 by the time that event arrives, just hitting their stride as players. It’s now imperative that Canada returns to that stage – it’s very future relies on it.
In the lead up to Canada’s qualification bid, whether now or ahead of future ICC events, Bet365 will feature all the latest international cricket news, notes and odds.
Without world cup qualification their will be limited funding. With limited funding there will be no professional player payments. Without payments there will be no full time training, and without training there will be no world cup qualification. A vicious cycle that is almost impossible to get out of…and I say almost because on this occasion there is a precedent – Afghanistan. The fairytale story of the game, a decade ago its players were largely living in refugee camps, playing the sport for fun. There was no funding, little equipment and no facilities. Now they are a top two associate nation. How? Heart. Will, Desire. Hard work…and wearing their country’s jersey with the pride of a people who have faced adversity the likes of which Canada will never know. If they can do it, anything is possible…there is still hope yet.
Canada u19 fall to India u19 at the 2016 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup by 372 runs in 1st Warm-Up match
So who are the players to look out for in red and white in Bangladesh? Or more importantly, who can help return Canada to the world stage over the next 8 years?
Abraash Khan – Captain
The captain and undoubtedly the key player in Canada’s line up. 17 year old Kahn is a number 4 batsman and right arm medium pacer with a solid recent record in the West Indies Cricket Board under 19 limited overs tournament in July of 2015. Kahn scored a composed 79 against Leewards, 50 against Windward, and took seven wickets for the tournament. His biggest test will come without ball or bat in hand however, but as captain trying to stop the world’s next superstars with an inexperienced bowling line up will be a steep learning curve – hopefully for the betterment of Canadian cricket.
Shlok Patel
The key bowler on Bangladesh’s spinning tracks. 17 year old left arm orthodox Patel has impressed since donning the red and white, returning 3-32 off 9 overs against Leewards in July 2015, and 2/32 off 9 against a very strong Trinidad and Tobago at the same event. With Bangladesh’s notorious bullet like outfields and short boundaries in mind, Patel looms as a key man for Kahn to turn to if the game is getting away from Canada in the early stages, or simply to bowl tightly through the middle overs before the frantic final 10. A star of the future worth keeping an eye on.
Arslan Khan
Put his name up in lights with a hard fought 43 off 78 balls against a highly talented Barbados U19’s in July, as wickets were tumbling around him – maturity beyond his years at just 16 years of age, there’s a lot of upside to Kahn being exposed to the world’s best rising stars at such a tender age. Expected to be a potential future captain in two years time in New Zealand, Kahn would be wise to spend as much time with Abraash on this tour, doing his best impersonation of a sponge.
Kurt Ramdath
A left arm orthodox spin bowler, 18 year old Ramdath can operate as Patels back up, providing a similar option to the captain if left arm orthodox is doing the trick. His ability to spin the ball and vary his speed could be crucial, with his best result in 2015 a return of 2/33 against Leewards. Can also be considered an all rounder, batting at 7-8.