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Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sharma ready to take on the world
Shivam Sharma is returning to where his cricket journey began next February. Growing up in India, Sharma started playing the sport at age 12. Years later, after moving to Montreal for university, then settling in Winnipeg, he'll return playing on his biggest stage yet — representing Team Canada in the 2026 Men's T20 Cricket World Cup. SUPPLIED Shivam Sharma was named best bowler of the four-country Americas Qualifier tournament on Sunday after Team Canada qualified for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Bermuda. Canada secured its spot in the World Cup on Saturday at the 2025 ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier, in King City, Ont., with Sharma, the only Manitoban on the team, helping lead a dominant run through the tournament. The team went 6-0 in an eight-day, double round-robin format against the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands. 'It's a dream for every cricketer to play at the big stage and to play for your country and represent your country in the World Cups,' said Sharma. 'So, I was feeling really grateful and blessed. I'm looking forward to this opportunity, and I'm feeling very happy.' With a seven-wicket win over the Bahamas on Saturday, along with Bermuda losing to the Cayman Islands, Team Canada celebrated, knowing they would be heading to host countries India and Sri Lanka from February to March 2026 for a chance at a T20 World Cup title. On Sunday, they ended the tournament strong with a six-wicket win over Bermuda. 'In all three aspects, we did really well,' said Sharma. 'Our batting, bowling, fielding, everybody was giving their one hundred per cent, and the execution was really good.' Sharma made his Team Canada debut in April at the North America Cup in the Cayman Islands, where Canada finished second behind the United States. He also competed in Florida at the end of May, playing in the International Cricket Council World Cup League 2 tournament. Sharma has seemed right at home with his new national team, earning Best Bowler of the Series and taking three wickets in Canada's qualifying game against the Bahamas. When he's not playing on the big stages with Team Canada, Sharma competes with the Cosmos Cricket Club in Winnipeg. 'I moved to Winnipeg because I had my cousins here,' said Sharma. 'So I was not playing for the first couple years, I didn't play cricket in Canada. And then I came here, I met Ray Ramrattan, my manager of the team, and he motivated me to play, play for his club.' Ramrattan says the hard work and discipline Sharma has shown over the four years on the Cosmos have been remarkable on his journey to the national team. 'You can spot people who work for things, and go for things, and he's one of the people that has done that,' said Ramrattan. 'The fact that he's achieved it and continued to play good cricket, from where I am sitting, I feel very proud. I'm happy that he got where he is, happy that our club was there to help him maintain a good standard of training and competition over the years. And when he got this opportunity, he seized it, and from the moment he stepped onto the field, Shivam gave his best and he played and he earned the respect of the team.' The Cosmos, an elite team in Winnipeg that has won the past three championships in the top division of the Manitoba Cricket Association, also includes Jatinder (Sunny) Matharu, a member of Team Canada since 2021, although he did not play in this year's World Cup Qualifiers. In the Florida tournament in May, Matharu and Sharma played together, marking the first time two Cosmos players have been on the same national team in the organization's 46-year history. Sharma says the support from Cosmos head coach Raza Ali and teammate Matharu has been great. 'I feel really grateful for all the people there, they're close to me, they're really nice, and they're pushing me forward to the big stages,' said Sharma. Sharma will be participating in the second T20 World Cup Canada has qualified for, and will be working closely with Ali in the coming months to prepare. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'For the last few years, Sunny has been carrying responsibility of being an inspiration of young cricketers in Manitoba,' said Ramrattan. 'Now that Shivam is there as well, together they share that role, and I know people look up to them.' Canada joins host nations India and Sri Lanka, along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, the West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan who have already qualified for the World Cup. The final seven spots will be determined through upcoming continental qualifiers in Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. 'I grew up there, so obviously really excited,' said Sharma. 'It's a hub of cricket, so it's going to be very exciting for me. And at the same time, it's a big opportunity for each and every player over there.'
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Canada cruise to T20 World Cup 2026
Canada have booked their place at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, following an emphatic victory over the Bahamas in the Americas Qualifier at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground on Saturday. Playing at home, Canada maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament, registering their fifth consecutive win to seal qualification. In a dominant display, bowlers Kaleem Sana and Shivam Sharma picked up three wickets each to bundle out the Bahamas for just 57 runs. Chasing the modest target, Canada wasted no time, racing to victory in only 5.3 overs. Dilpreet Bajwa starred with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 36 off just 14 deliveries to complete the rout. Led by Nicholas Kirton, Canada entered the regional qualifier as strong favourites, having competed in last year's T20 World Cup held in the USA and the Caribbean. They opened their campaign with a commanding 110-run win over Bermuda, followed by a 59-run victory against the Cayman Islands and a 10-wicket triumph over the Bahamas in the first round of fixtures. In their second encounter against the Cayman Islands, a rain-shortened five-over contest, Canada posted 82 runs and secured another convincing win by 42 runs. With this result, Canada join co-hosts India and Sri Lanka, along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, United States and West Indies who have already qualified for the expanded 20-team tournament. Seven more spots remain up for grabs through the remaining regional qualifiers two from Europe, five to 11 July 2025, two from Africa, 19 September to four October 2025 and three from the AsiaEast Asia Pacific Qualifier, one to 17 October 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada cricketers celebrate T20 World Cup qualification with win over Bermuda
KING CITY – Teenage batsman Yuvraj Samra scored 45 runs Sunday as Canada celebrated qualification for next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Bermuda in the final game of the four-country Americas Qualifier. Canada's seven-wicket win over the Bahamas on Saturday, coupled with Bermuda's nine-wicket loss to the Cayman Islands, sealed the Canadian qualification on the penultimate day of the four-team qualifier. Sunday's win, which improved Canada's tournament record to 6-0-0, was the icing on the qualifying cake. Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground where it was 32 C feeling like a steamy 39 for the mid-afternoon start. After a storming inning of 70 runs by No. 3 batsman Delray Rawlins, Bermuda's batting order crumbled. Bermuda finished at 131 all out midway through the 19th over. That set Canada a victory target of 132 from its 20 overs. Canada put up its half-century in the fifth over with Samra accounting for 40 of the runs. But the 18-year-old was bowled by Dominic Sabir in the sixth over with Canada at 63 for one. Samra finished with three sixes and five fours in his 23-ball knock. Fellow opener Dilpreet Bajwa was caught two balls later on 12 runs off 10 deliveries. And Pargat Singh was run out the next over with Canada at 65 for three. The Canadians were 85 for three after 10 overs. Harsh Thaker (33 runs) and captain Nicholas Kirton (17 runs) steered Canada over the victory line at 132 for four wickets in the 16th over. Canada is the 13th country to qualify for the 20-team T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. The other qualified sides are. Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the U.S., West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan plus co-hosts India and Sri Lanka. Seven more teams — two from the Europe Qualifier (to be played July 5-11), two from Africa Qualifier (Sept. 19 to Oct. 4) and three from the Asia-Pacific Qualifier (Oct. 1-17) — will book their ticket through regional qualifiers. Canada made its T20 World Cup debut last year, failing to advance out of the group stage after beating No. 11 Ireland and losing to No. 8 Pakistan and co-host United States, ranked 17th. A match against No. 1 India was abandoned due to inclement weather. Canada defeated Bermuda by 110 runs in its June 15 opening match at the Americas Qualifier. Bermuda was 100 for two after 10 overs Sunday, before losing the next eight wickets for just 31 runs. Rawlins' fine innings ended when he was caught at the boundary by Shivam Sharma off Saad Bin Zafar's last delivery of the 11th over with Bermuda at 102 for three. Kaleem Sana and Zafar each took three wickets. Sana removed Bermuda opener Tre Manders with Canada's first ball. But Rawlins, the No. 3 batsman, came out swinging, scoring 14 balls off Dilon Heyliger's first three deliveries of a third over that produced 16 runs for Bermuda. Rawlins punished Jaskaran Buttar in the fourth over, with 10 runs of his first two deliveries of a 14-run over. And Rawlins attacked the spin of Thaker the next over, reaching his half-century with a four-six-four off the first three balls. Canada had a slight chance to remove Rawlins on 64 in the eighth over but a diving Singh was unable to get to a moonshot when it came down. Rawlins and Alex Dore put on an 83-run partnership before Dore, on six, was caught by Zafar off Buttar's last delivery of the eighth over. The 27-year-old Rawlins, who made his debut for Bermuda at 15 and went on to make 138 appearances for Sussex in England, slammed six sixes and four fours in his 42-ball knock. Onias Bascome added 20 runs. Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands were competing in an eight-day double round-robin format that sent the tournament winner advance to the T20 World Cup. Canada is ranked 19th in T20 play by the International Cricket Council, compared to No. 27 for Bermuda, No. 41 for the Cayman Islands and No. 56 for the Bahamas. The Cayman Islands and Bahamas were recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
India Today
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Canada qualify for ICC men's T20 World Cup 2026 with dominant win over Bahamas
Canada have secured their place in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after completing a resounding seven-wicket win over the Bahamas in the Americas Qualifier at King City. With this, the hosts notched up their fifth straight win in the regional tournament to confirm qualification for the global showpiece, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri to bowl first at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground, Canada's bowling unit delivered a ruthless performance, skittling out the Bahamas for just 57 runs in 19.5 overs. Kaleem Sana (3/6) and Shivam Sharma (3/16) led the charge with the ball, dismantling the opposition batting with pace and chase was little more than a formality, as Dilpreet Bajwa smashed an unbeaten 36 off just 14 balls to wrap up the target in only 5.3 overs. The win not only sealed qualification but also underscored Canada's dominance in the Americas Qualifiers. Canada, led by Nicholas Kirton, began their campaign with a 110-run hammering of Bermuda, followed by a 59-run win over Cayman Islands. They then dismantled the Bahamas in their first meeting with a 10-wicket win. A rain-affected second fixture against Cayman Islands saw Canada prevail comfortably by 42 runs before capping off their campaign with another convincing this victory, Canada have joined 13 other teams who have already secured their places in the 20-team event: hosts India and Sri Lanka, defending champions England, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, United States, and West to the ICC, the remaining seven spots will be filled through regional qualifiers—two from Europe (5-11 July 2025), two from Africa (19 September-4 October 2025), and three from the Asia-East Asia Pacific Qualifier (1-17 October 2025).Canada's return to the global stage continues their steady rise in T20 cricket, having also featured in the Americas leg of the previous edition. With a well-rounded squad and a string of commanding performances, they will look to make a strong impression in the 2026 edition of the Watch
Winnipeg Free Press
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bowlers on target as Canada defeats the Bahamas at T20 Americas qualifier
KING CITY – Kaleem Sana and Shivam Sharma each took three wickets as Canada defeated the Bahamas by seven wickets Saturday at the Americas Qualifier for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Canada won the toss and elected to field at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground, dismissing the Bahamas for 57 runs with one ball remaining in their allotted 20 overs. The Bahamas were 19 for six before Jonathan Barry (10 runs) and Jevelle Gallimore (14 not out) offered some resistance. In response, Dilpreet Bajwa was 38 not out as Canada reached the victory target in just 5 1/3 overs, finishing at 61 for three. Bajwa hit five fours and one six in his 14-ball knock. Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands are competing in an eight-day double round-robin format that will see the group winner advance to next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Saturday's win improved Canada's record to 5-0-0 atop the standings. The Canadian men finish Sunday against Bermuda. Canada made its T20 World Cup debut last year, failing to advance out of the group stage after beating No. 11 Ireland and losing to No. 8 Pakistan and co-host United States, ranked 17th. A match against No. 1 India was abandoned due to inclement weather. The Cayman Islands and Bahamas were recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier. Canada is ranked 19th in T20 play by the International Cricket Council, compared to No. 27 for Bermuda, No. 41 for the Cayman Islands and No. 52 for the Bahamas. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
