Canada vs Nepal: Preview and Recent Form Ahead of the 1st T20I Match

Match Details

The first match of the Canada T20I Tri-Series 2024 is set to take place on September 28th at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground (A) in King City, Ontario, Canada. This encounter will see Canada facing off against Nepal in what promises to be an exciting and closely contested match.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head Records

Canada and Nepal have a brief but intriguing history in their limited-overs encounters. In their recent ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 matches, Canada has been in strong form, winning several of their recent games. On September 16, 2024, Canada defeated Nepal by a significant margin of 103 runs at the same venue, with Canada scoring 253/8 and Nepal managing only 150 runs.

In their head-to-head records, Canada has emerged victorious in two out of the three matches played between the two teams, with Nepal winning one.

Current Form and Team Rankings

Canada, currently ranked 22nd in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings with a rating of 131, has shown mixed form in T20Is. While they have excelled in the ICC Men's World Cup League 2, their T20I form has been ordinary, winning only one out of their last four matches.

Nepal, ranked 17th with a rating of 169, is in a slump, having lost all their recent ICC Men's World Cup League 2 matches and failing to win any games in the Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Despite this, Nepal remains a potential underdog capable of causing upsets.

Key Players to Watch

For Canada, key players include Nicholas Kirton, the new skipper known for his ability to strike the ball hard and score runs quickly, and Saad Bin Zafar, a reliable bowler who is accurate and effective in picking up crucial wickets.

Nepal will be relying on Sandeep Lamichhane, who has been performing well since his return to the team and adds a significant edge to Nepal's bowling. Aasif Sheikh, a clean striker of the ball, is also expected to play a crucial role for Nepal in the upcoming matches.

Toss and Match Predictions

The toss is expected to play a crucial role in the match, with the team winning the toss likely to elect to field first. This is based on recent trends at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground (A), where defending has been challenging.

Predictions suggest that Canada is likely to win the match, given their current form and the performance of their key players. However, Nepal's ability to cause upsets should not be underestimated.

Squads and Live Streaming

The Canada squad includes Nicholas Kirton (captain), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, and others, while Nepal's squad features Rohit Paudel (captain), Sandeep Lamichhane, Aasif Sheikh, and several other talented players.

For fans looking to watch the match live, it will be streamed on various platforms, including the Kantipur channel and app in Nepal, and ICC.tv for most other countries.

Conclusion

The Canada vs Nepal match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to make a strong start in the T20I Tri-Series. Canada's recent form and home advantage give them an edge, but Nepal's potential for an upset makes this a match to watch closely. As the teams take to the field on September 28th, cricket enthusiasts will be eager to see which team comes out on top.