WC: A stepping stone for Canada

 New Delhi: Mention Canada in cricketing context and the visuals that pop-up in your mind are those of India taking on Pakistan at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club for the Sahara Cup, which is now buried into history books.

But what very few know is that Canada - who is one of the recent entries into the cricket - had a cricket team for several years without playing much of international cricket.

Cricket is extremely popular at the domestic level in Canada and it is only in the recent past that Canada was provided with the opportunity to play internationally.

Canada qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after finishing as runners-up to Ireland at the Qualifiers in South Africa.

It first featured in the tournament in 1979 and its greatest moment of glory came in 2003 when it beat Bangladesh by 60 runs in South Africa. John Davison also broke the record in that tournament for the fastest century in the World Cup history.

Canada is placed in Group A with the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Kenya. So surely they will have to give more than 200 per cent if they want to comepeted with their formidable opponents. They will have nothing to lose in the World Cup as no one expects them do anything thing but they would want to create a stir by spoiling someone else's party.

While they will play for pride against big guns like Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, they stand a good chance against Zimbabwe and Kenya - the other two comparatively weaker teams in the group.

The side will depend on Rizwan Cheema, Umar Bhatti, wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai, all-rounder Sunil Dhaniram and the dashing hard-hitter John Davison.

Davison is perhaps the most successful Canadian cricketer and he can be a real gamechanger. He has all the attributes in him to play a brilliant innings. He can bowl as well, with a happy knack of picking up wickets.

Canada hop between Sri Lanka and India for the first three games and then will settle down in India to finish their group engagements. They begin against tournament's hot favourites Sri Lanka on February 20, 2011.