The Mayor, City Council members, and staff of the City of Brampton, along with Cricket Canada management, hosted a warm send-off for members of Team Canada at a simple yet dignified ceremony held at Brampton City Hall.

Community members gathered on January 4 to bid farewell to Cricket Canada’s national men’s team as it prepares for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The event reflected the pride and growing enthusiasm surrounding Canadian cricket as the team embarks on the global tournament.

Team Canada will compete in the T20 World Cup beginning February 7, marking its second appearance in the tournament. In the 2024 edition, Canada delivered a competitive performance. The team narrowly lost to regional rival the United States by seven wickets in a high-scoring match and fought hard in a seven-wicket defeat against Pakistan. Canada’s campaign included a notable 12-run victory over Ireland, while its match against India was abandoned due to inclement weather.

In the 2026 tournament, Canada has been drawn into Pool D alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates. The team will play across all three major climatic zones of South Asia. Canada opens its campaign against South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 9, followed by a match against the UAE in New Delhi on February 13. The final two group matches will be played in Chennai, against New Zealand on February 17 and Afghanistan on February 19.

At the send-off event, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown highlighted the city’s growing cricket infrastructure, describing Brampton as the “cricket capital of Canada,” and extended his best wishes to the team.

Mohammad Shoaib, Business Ambassador and Tourism representative for the City of Brampton, shared his reflections on social media, stating, “What stood out was not just the players, but the alignment in the room. When municipal leadership and the national governing body are present together, it signals that cricket in Canada is no longer operating on the margins—it is part of the civic and sporting mainstream.”

Shoaib emphasized that such engagement must lead to tangible outcomes, noting that their presence should translate into “policy, access, and infrastructure.” While send-off events carry symbolic importance, he added that sustained progress will be measured by developments after the team’s departure, including improved grounds, youth pathways, and long-term investment.

“Wishing Team Canada clarity, confidence, and resilience as they represent the country on the world stage,” Shoaib added.

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