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The T20 World Cup 2024 preparations are in full swing as the West Indies and the United States gear up to host this prestigious ICC event. Among the participating teams, Canada has qualified for the first time and is set to kick off the warm-up matches against Nepal.
The inaugural warm-up match between Canada and Nepal will be held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, US, on May 27, 2024, starting at 9:00 PM IST.
Match Details
- Fixture: Canada vs Nepal
- Date: May 27, 2024
- Time: 9:00 PM IST
- Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, US
Team Captains
- Canada: Saad Bin Zafar
- Nepal: Rohit Paudel
Historical Context Nepal has an impressive record in T20Is, including being the only team to surpass the 300-run mark in a T20I match and holding records for the fastest century and half-century in T20Is. Canada and Nepal have faced each other once before in 2022, with Nepal winning by 8 wickets after chasing down a target of 81.
Pitch Report: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
Grand Prairie Stadium, recently renovated from a baseball stadium, was a venue for the Major League Cricket 2023 edition. The pitch is known for being flat, offering plenty of runs, which should benefit the batters. Pacers can expect some assistance with seam movement. The average innings score at this venue is around 165.
Team Previews
Canada Team News & Playing 11
Canada has recently concluded a T20I series against the USA, which they lost. The squad remains largely unchanged, with a few adjustments in the bowling department.
Key Batters
- Aaron Johnson: With 713 runs in 16 T20Is at a strike rate of 166.59, he was the top scorer in the recent series against the USA.
- Navneet Dhaliwal: Has scored 870 runs in 30 T20Is, averaging 36.25 with a strike rate above 130.
Key Bowlers
- Saad Bin Zafar: The captain, with 43 wickets in 38 T20Is, maintains an economy rate of 6.44.
- Kaleem Sana: A left-arm fast bowler with 27 wickets in 16 matches, averaging 12.48.
Recent Form Canada has been competitive, winning the T20 World Cup 2024 Americas Region Final and the Desert Cup T20I series, despite their recent loss to the USA.
Predicted Playing 11 Aaron Johnson, Shreyas Movva (wk), Dilpreet Singh, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar (c), Dillon Heyliger, Navneet Dhaliwal, Jeremy Gordan, Kaleem Sana.
Nepal Team News & Playing 11
Nepal is fielding a full-strength team, with no reported injuries or replacements. They recently competed in the Men’s T20I Premier Cup 2024, topping their group with four wins before being eliminated in the knockouts.
Key Batters
- Kushal Malla: A left-handed batter with 771 runs in 39 T20Is at a strike rate of 167.25, holding the second-fastest century in T20Is.
- Dipendra Singh Airee: Has accumulated over 1500 runs in 61 T20Is, with a strike rate of 149.37.
Key Bowlers
- Karan KC: An experienced pacer with 89 wickets in 65 T20Is at a strike rate of 14.16.
- Abinash Bohara: Has taken 74 wickets in 57 T20Is, averaging 18.82.
Predicted Playing 11 Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Sundeep Jora, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Abinash Bohara, Lalit Rajbanshi.
Match Prediction
The contest between Canada and Nepal promises to be exciting, with both teams showcasing talented T20 players. While Canadian players have more experience on Western pitches, Nepal boasts a stronger batting and bowling unit with greater international exposure. Nepal’s robust bowling lineup is expected to be a significant factor, giving them the edge in this match.
Prediction: Nepal to beat Canada.
