🇨🇦 Canada Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Full Team List & Key Players
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026, marks another exciting chapter for Canada, one of cricket’s fastest-developing Associate nations. After a spirited appearance in 2024, Canada looks to build on that experience and challenge higher-ranked sides under the leadership of Saad Bin Zafar.
With a balanced mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, Canada’s squad promises to deliver competitive cricket and aim for surprise results in Group D.
🇨🇦 Canada Likely Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
| No. | Player Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saad Bin Zafar (C) | Captain / All-Rounder |
| 2 | Navneet Dhaliwal | Middle-Order Batter |
| 3 | Aaron Johnson | Batter |
| 4 | Shreyas Movva (†) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| 5 | Ravinderpal Singh | Batter |
| 6 | Nicholas Kirton | Batting All-Rounder |
| 7 | Rayyan Pathan | Batting All-Rounder |
| 8 | Pargat Singh | All-Rounder |
| 9 | Dilpreet Bajwa | All-Rounder |
| 10 | Junaid Siddiqui | All-Rounder |
| 11 | Kaleem Sana | Left-Arm Medium Fast Bowler |
| 12 | Jeremy Gordon | Fast Medium Bowler |
| 13 | Dilon Heyliger | Medium Pacer |
| 14 | Nikhil Dutta | Off-Spin Bowler |
| 15 | Rishiv Joshi | Left-Arm Medium Fast Bowler |
Final 15-man squad to be officially confirmed by Cricket Canada before the tournament.
Leadership & Team Management
- Captain: Saad Bin Zafar
- Vice Captain: Navneet Dhaliwal (expected)
- Head Coach: Pubudu Dassanayake (expected)
Canada’s leadership core brings calm experience and composure to the side. Saad Bin Zafar’s all-round ability and tactical intelligence have transformed Canada into a consistent and competitive T20 outfit.
Canada’s Group – ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| New Zealand 🇳🇿 | ICC Men’s T20I Rankings |
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | Top 7 finish – T20 World Cup 2024 |
| Afghanistan 🇦🇫 | Top 7 finish – T20 World Cup 2024 |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | Americas Qualifier |
| United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 | Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier |
Canada Group Stage Matches – T20 WC 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (LOCAL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Feb 9 2026 | Canada vs South Africa | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Feb 13 2026 | Canada vs United Arab Emirates | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 3:00 PM |
| Tue, Feb 17 2026 | Canada vs New Zealand | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 11:00 AM |
| Thu, Feb 19 2026 | Canada vs Afghanistan | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:00 PM |
Predicted Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Johnson | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Navneet Dhaliwal | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Saad Bin Zafar (C) | All-Rounder |
| 4 | Nicholas Kirton | Batting All-Rounder |
| 5 | Shreyas Movva (†) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| 6 | Rayyan Pathan | Batting All-Rounder |
| 7 | Junaid Siddiqui | Spin All-Rounder |
| 8 | Kaleem Sana | Left-Arm Medium Fast |
| 9 | Jeremy Gordon | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Dilon Heyliger | Medium Pacer |
| 11 | Nikhil Dutta | Off-Spinner |
Bench Strength: Ravinderpal Singh, Dilpreet Bajwa, Rishiv Joshi, Pargat Singh
Team Strengths & Key Analysis
- Balanced Squad: Strong top order with Dhaliwal, Johnson, and Kirton supported by capable all-rounders.
- Experienced Core: Senior players like Saad Bin Zafar, Gordon, and Junaid Siddiqui bring vital big-match experience.
- Improved Bowling Attack: Canada’s seam-bowling trio can exploit helpful Indian conditions.
- Steady Middle Order: Reliable batters ensure stability in pressure chases.
- Fielding Unit: Improved athleticism adds depth to their defensive game.
Canada’s Road to the 2026 T20 World Cup
Canada qualified via the Americas Qualifier, showcasing grit and discipline. Performances against Bermuda and the USA highlighted their ability to stay calm in tight matches — a key strength heading into the global stage.
Final Word
Canada enters the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as underdogs, but with renewed confidence and a strong all-round unit. Led by Saad Bin Zafar and backed by power hitters like Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal, the team aims to make it past the group stage and create historic wins for North American cricket.
