Navneet Dhaliwal, a key player for Canada’s national cricket team, is gearing up to represent his adopted country on home soil. As part of the squad hosting Nepal and Oman in an ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 triangular one-day international (ODI) series, Dhaliwal is excited to once again don the Canadian colors, this time in King City.
Although Dhaliwal initially resisted moving to Canada with his family, leaving behind his cricket aspirations in India where he had played for the under-19 state team, he soon found a way back to the sport he loved. “I was very angry,” Dhaliwal, who was 22 at the time of his move, recalls. “I thought I’m never going to touch a [cricket] bat again.”
Thanks to the encouragement of Harjot Sidhu from the Toronto-based Yorkshire Cricket Club, Dhaliwal rediscovered his passion for cricket in local leagues. “And it just started from there,” he said.
In January 2015, Dhaliwal made his international debut for Canada in a match against the Netherlands in Namibia. Since then, he has captained the team and represented Canada in various international competitions, including the T20 World Cup. Dhaliwal kicked off that tournament with an impressive 61-run performance in Canada’s opening match against the U.S. in Grand Prairie, Texas. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “An incredible experience.”
Now 35, Dhaliwal has played for several Canadian teams, including the Brampton Riders, Surrey Jaguars, and Toronto Nationals. He missed the recent GT20 tournament and Dutch one-day internationals due to a shoulder injury but has since recovered and is eager to compete in the upcoming series.
Canada, currently ranked 19th in the ICC’s ODI rankings, sits third in the World League 2 standings. After sweeping their first series earlier this year, the team struggled in their next set of matches, losing four straight games to the U.S. and the Netherlands. Dhaliwal is optimistic but acknowledges the challenges ahead. “Both teams [Nepal and Oman] are world-class teams so we have to play our ‘A’ game to beat them both,” he said.
Away from the cricket pitch, Dhaliwal balances his career with family life, running a gas station in north Toronto and spending time with his wife and their 14-month-old son. Despite the demands of both cricket and business, his focus remains on the upcoming series and continuing his journey with Cricket Canada.
After the World League matches, the teams will face off in a series of T20 games. Dhaliwal, an opening batsman, prefers the shorter 20-over format, saying it allows him to better express himself on the field.
As Dhaliwal looks forward to the home series, he’s hoping for more victories and continued success in his cricket career with Canada.