logo
Canada gears up for Regional Final on road to ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Canada gears up for Regional Final on road to ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Toronto, June 15 (UNI) The final step in the regional race for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 begins on Sunday with Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands set to do battle here at
the Americas Qualifier.
Twelve matches in a double round-robin format will be held across the eight-day competition, kicking off with an opening double-header of Canada v Bermuda and Cayman Islands v Bahamas at Maple Leaf Cricket Club on Sunday. Teams will play each other twice before the event concludes on 22 June with only the table-topping side advancing to the next stage.
Reflecting on the prospect of qualifying for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Canadian captain Nicholas Kirton, stated: 'I would feel like half of the job is done, we went to our first T20 World Cup last year and played some good cricket and got a win against Ireland. The goal for this team is to improve on that.'
Bermuda will be eager to have a new opportunity after missing out on NRR last time.
Captain Terryne Fray shared his thoughts: 'If Bermuda were to qualify for the World Cup, it would be the greatest achievement in sporting history for us. It's something that, for a long time, has been unfathomable, but we understand that the pathway is there, and we can obtain it! The feeling would be indescribable, but what I do know is that if we did qualify, it would be the greatest feeling for every Bermudian.'
Cayman Islands and Bahamas recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier had their say too. Conroy Wright skipper of the Cayman Islands summarised his thoughts 'I would be delighted. I wouldn't have the words to explain the feelings'; whilst Bahamas skipper Marc Taylor said he would be 'Elated. Excited and on top of the world!'.
All matches in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Americas Qualifier will be available to watch live on ICC.tv, while fans in the Asian subcontinent can follow the action on FanCode.
UNI BM

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Italy call on Gennaro Gattuso as manager after sacking Luciano Spalletti
Italy call on Gennaro Gattuso as manager after sacking Luciano Spalletti

Indian Express

time19 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Italy call on Gennaro Gattuso as manager after sacking Luciano Spalletti

Former footballer Gennaro Gattuso has been handed the reins of the Italian football team after the national federation sacked Luciano Spalletti earlier this month. The former midfielder, who made a name for himself for his hard-tackles, will have to steer the Italian team's ship out of choppy waters as they seek to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. It's a task made much harder by Italy being handed a 0-3 thumping by Norway. Italy trail Norway by nine points in their FIFA World Cup qualifying group. To their credit, they have played two matches fewer than the group leaders rom Scandinavia. After the defeat to Norway, Italy had managed to beat Moldova 2-0. But that game turned out to be Spalletti's final match in charge with the national team. The Italians have won the FIFA World Cup four times in history of the competition, but have failed to qualify for the last two editions. 'Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football, the blue shirt is like a second skin for him,' Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina said. 'His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be fundamental to best face the national team's next matches. Aware of the importance of the objective we want to achieve, I thank him for the willingness and total dedication with which he accepted this challenge.' The Italian federation said that the coach will be 'presented officially on Thursday, 19 June, at Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome.' The 47-year-old Gattuso has made 73 appearances for Italy. He was a member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, one of the four times the nation won the most prestigious trophy in football. Until recently, he was at the helm at Croatia's Hajduk Split. He left the club by mutual consent, after a third-placed finish in the Croatian top flight. Gattuso has extensive experience of coaching in football clubs like AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia and Marseille, among others. It must be noted that Gattuso's only trophy as a coach was the Italian Cup title he claimed while at the helm in Napoli in 2010. The Associated Press reported that Gattuso was not the Italian federation's first choice to replace Spalletti. That would be Claudio Ranieri, who turned down the offer. Gattuso's first match as Italy coach will be at home to Estonia on September 5. (With inputs from AP, Reuters)

Temba Bavuma's never-give-up mantra on batting at Lord's with injury: ‘I went against advice from management, willing to deal with consequences'
Temba Bavuma's never-give-up mantra on batting at Lord's with injury: ‘I went against advice from management, willing to deal with consequences'

Indian Express

time19 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Temba Bavuma's never-give-up mantra on batting at Lord's with injury: ‘I went against advice from management, willing to deal with consequences'

When the moment arrived, it must have been truly overwhelming for every South African cricket fan. Even more so if you happened to be at Lord's – the venue where South Africa finally became world champions on Sunday, beating Australia in the World Test Championship Final. Tears overflowed. Former players choked up on air. Their all-time greats celebrated the moment as if it was their own, from the stands to the broadcast centre. Yet, when the camera panned to the balcony, their captain, Temba Bavuma sat with his head buried in his hands. For someone who played second fiddle to Aiden Markram in that historic chase and sat back and watched, he watched history being made from the front seat of the Lord's balcony. It was as if Bavuma was oblivious to what was happening around him. Not even when he received the loudest cheers that anyone received on the day, which came after his name was called at the presentation ceremony. Not even lifting the ICC Mace, after overcoming all the adversities, brought out any over-the-top jubilation. Personally, it was a high point too, from being South Africa's first black captain to now the country's first-ever major ICC world trophy-winning leader. 'For me, it was that moment there to be recognised more than just a Black African cricketer, but to be seen as someone who's done something that the country has wanted,' he said in the post-match press conference. 'So I think that's something that I'll definitely walk around with my chest out. And again, I can hope that it inspires, it continues to inspire our country.' Growing up at Langa, a township in Cape Town, nothing has come easy for Bavuma. He has played street cricket on roads named after venues he and his friends have heard on television, and here he was sitting at Lord's with the WTC medal decorating him. 'I never pictured myself playing here at Lord's. I could only fantasise about it. That's what was really reachable for us. Being captain, that was never a dream of mine. And now to have this opportunity, now to be in this position where you have won the mace for that country. I don't think you really can write those type of stories,' Bavuma said. When the WTC cycle was at the halfway stage, South Africa were nowhere in the picture to qualify for the final at Lord's. The team that seemed to perennially attract the 'chokers' tag, particularly in ICC events, would turn things around in style. They would win 8 on the bounce, including the final, the most consecutive wins for any team since the WTC came into play in 2019. And right through the cycle, leading the run-charts for Proteas was the man himself, who scored 711 runs in 13 innings with two centuries and five fifties, including the one in the final. But as has been the case, he has seldom received credit for it. In the final at Lord's, he battled a hamstring injury, a familiar foe of his, just as he did during the 2023 World Cup semi-final and was crucified for it. At Tea on Day 3, he was advised not to walk out with Markram, but nothing could stop him. 'I didn't want to think of another option. I didn't want to consider myself not being there with Aiden. It was a key moment within the game. I wasn't at 100% fitness but I felt that I was good enough to still do the job. It was a tough decision. I can't not think of the 2023 World Cup where it was a similar type of incident. But it was me backing my gut. I went against advice from management and I was willing to take whatever comes with it. It was very much an instinctive call, very much an egotistical call but I was happy to deal with whatever consequence that came with it,' Bavuma added. Maybe facing such consequences in the past had only made him tougher. In his years growing up in Langa, and as part of South Africa's cricket ecosystem, he has seen the likes of Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers trip over hurdles to bring home a world title. In 2023, he was at Eden Gardens when they lost in the semifinals. In 2024, he saw his teammates led by Markram squander a winning position at Bridgetown. 'It hasn't been easy. It's not easy being captain of South Africa,' Bavuma said of his journey. 'And, you know, I guess all the sacrifices, all the disappointment at that moment… it feels worth it, you know, when you're going through it all, giving up is always an option. It's always there. It's always there at the back of your mind, but something kind of holds you on.'

'It's okay': Yuvraj Singh takes a cheeky dig at Australia as South Africa win WTC title
'It's okay': Yuvraj Singh takes a cheeky dig at Australia as South Africa win WTC title

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

'It's okay': Yuvraj Singh takes a cheeky dig at Australia as South Africa win WTC title

Yuvraj Singh and Australian cricket team India's 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh congratulated South Africa in style - while also taking a playful jab at Australia - after the Proteas ended their 27-year ICC trophy drought with a memorable five-wicket win in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord's. South Africa, chasing 282 in the fourth innings, rode on Aiden Markram 's sensational 136 and captain Temba Bavuma 's gritty 66 to clinch their first ICC title since the 1998 KnockOut Trophy. They completed the chase on Day 4, marking their eighth consecutive Test win — the longest unbeaten streak in WTC history. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Taking to social media platform X, Yuvraj praised South Africa's grit and leadership, while also humorously needling Australia, who were aiming to defend their WTC crown. Poll How impressed are you with South Africa's performance in the WTC Final? Extremely impressed Somewhat impressed Not impressed Indifferent "The class of 2025 ends a 27-year wait and lifts the ICC World Test Championship Trophy in style! Huge congrats to the @ProteasMenCSA on a historic win at Lord's,' Yuvraj wrote. 'I've always believed there's no greater measure of resilience and character than Test cricket, and South Africa rose to the occasion! #AidenMarkram's century was pure class. @KagisoRabada25, @marcojansen2000 and @NgidiLungi brought relentless intensity and #TembaBavuma led with calm and courage. A final worthy of the format. Tough luck #Australia! You know it's okay to let go of one trophy #WTCFinal,' the all-rounder added. The post quickly gained traction, with fans applauding both Yuvraj's humour and the Proteas' long-awaited triumph. For South Africa, it wasn't just a win — it was a redemptive statement on the biggest stage of Test cricket. 'The Sun is on us': Temba Bavuma soaks it in

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store