BRAMPTON – Fourteen Pakistani players have been selected for the upcoming third edition of the Global T20 in Canada, which is set to commence next month.
This year the cricketing bonanza will return to Brampton, Ontario with six franchises, including two new entrants, the Surrey Jaguars and the Mississauga Panthers. The marquee tournament will feature Toronto Nationals, Brampton Wolves, Montreal Tigers, Vancouver Knights along with the two new entrants this season – Surrey Jaguars and Mississauga Panthers.
The tournament, scheduled between 20th July and 6th August, will see the 6 franchises play 25 matches over the course of 18 days.
The previous editions have seen stalwarts of the game featured as marquee players, including the likes of Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Brendon McCullum.
For this year, the Toronto Nationals have selected Pakistan’s opening batsman Abdullah Shafique, young cricketers Zaman Khan and Saim Ayub, and former captain Shahid Afridi.
Azam Khan, a wicketkeeper batsman, Shoaib Malik, a seasoned all-rounder, and Shahnawaz Dahani, a fast bowler, will play for the Mississauga Panthers in the competition.
The Brampton Wolves have selected young spinner Usama Mir, all-rounder Hussain Talat, and right-handed batsman Usman Khan for the 18-day competition.
Mohammad Rizwan will play for the Vancouver Knights, while Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris will represent the Surrey Jaguars. The Montreal Tigers will include Abbas Afridi as a player.
Famous cricket players from all around the world are participating in the Global T20, which will take place at Brampton Sports Park after a three-year gap caused by COVID-19.
Each squad will consist of 16 players from Full and ICC Associate Member Nations. These squads will include six international players including two marquee stars, four players from Associate Nations and six Canadians, delivering a diverse and action-packed cricket festivity.
With Canada regaining its ODI status earlier this year, the Global T20 Canada is a vital cog in the growth and promotion of cricket in Canada and North America. The prestigious T20 League will allow Canadian cricketers to hone their skills while competing with some of the finest players from around the world. Furthermore, the tournament will inspire a new generation of fans to engage with the sport.
Speaking on the upcoming tournament, Richard Berridge, CEO of Global T20 said, “This year, the tournament is poised to be bigger and better than ever before. We welcome Surrey Jaguars and Mississauga Panthers for this edition.
“We are excited about the Player Draft today where some legendary marquee players will be revealed. We are committed to enhancing the player experience and engaging fans and we are truly excited for another thrilling edition that will showcase the growth of cricket in Canada and beyond,” Berridge added.
