Cricket

Canada's Jeremy Gordon, haunted by a costly over in their previous match against USA, redeemed himself with a stellar performance against Ireland in the ongoing T20I series. Gordon's opening spell proved crucial as he exploited the variable bounce of the New York strip, claiming two wickets and conceding just 16 runs in four overs.After the disastrous over against USA, Gordon was determined to make amends. He focused on hitting the back-of-a-length area, which proved effective as Ireland's batters struggled to adjust. Gordon's first wicket came when he dismissed Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, who mistimed a pull shot and was caught at mid-on.Gordon's redemption was complete when he returned to bowl the final over with Ireland needing 17 runs to win. He bowled a short-of-a-length delivery that Mark Adair miscued, giving Gordon a straightforward catch. Gordon's figures of 4-0-16-2 helped Canada secure a narrow victory.The match also highlighted concerns about the pitch conditions at the New York stadium, which will host the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday. While the wicket was improved from the previous match between Ireland and India, Canada's Nicholas Kirton, who scored 49 runs, admitted that it was still challenging to bat on.Despite the pitch concerns, Gordon's performance was a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt to difficult conditions. Canada will now face Pakistan and India, two of the world's top teams, in their upcoming matches. Gordon's confidence is high, and he believes that Canada can give a good account of themselves if they remain disciplined and focused.

Canada has unveiled its 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, featuring a blend of experience and emerging talent. Among the notable inclusions is uncapped batter Kanwarpal Tathgur, who has impressed with his performances in domestic cricket despite having played only eight List A games.Tathgur's selection is a testament to Canada's commitment to developing young players. He joins a squad that includes several veterans, including 39-year-old allrounder Junaid Siddiqui and 35-year-old batter Ravinderpal Singh. The team also boasts a strong bowling attack, led by experienced seamer Jeremy Gordon and left-arm quick Kaleem Sana.Saad Bin Zafar will captain the side, while Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, and Dilpreet Bajwa are the only players under 30 in the squad. Tajinder Singh, Aaditya Varadharajan, Ammar Khalid, Jatinder Matharu, and Parveen Kumar have been named as reserves, with Tajinder set to travel with the team.Canada's participation in the T20 World Cup marks a significant milestone for the nation's cricket program. They will face a tough challenge in the tournament opener against USA in Dallas, with India, Pakistan, and Ireland also in their group.The squad's selection reflects Canada's determination to make an impact on the global stage. With a mix of experience and youthful exuberance, the team will be eager to prove their worth against some of the world's best cricket nations.