VAK vs TON Match Preview
The Vancouver Knights are eagerly preparing for the third edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament, set to commence on July 20 at the TD Cricket Arena, Brampton Sports Park. Their first match is scheduled for July 21 at the same venue. The team boasts an impressive lineup, including skilled white-ball players like Rassie Van Der Dussen, Mohammed Rizwan from Pakistan, and Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran, which has raised their hopes for a successful season.
A notable aspect of the Knights' team is its perfect balance and wealth of experience. They have retained Canadian players from their championship-winning squad in 2018, adding valuable local talent to their lineup. This experience from their victory five years ago may give them a slight edge in the upcoming campaign.
Rassie Van Der Dussen, a crucial player in the Knights' previous successes, returns for his third season, having been among the top scorers in the last edition with over 200 runs in just five games. Joining him is Pakistani wicket-keeper Mohammed Rizwan, ranked second in the ICC T20I batsmen rankings, along with the explosive talents of Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran.
Another pivotal figure making a comeback from the championship-winning season is Canadian National player, Ravinderpal Singh. Given the scarcity of Canadian players in the tournament, Singh's performance, alongside other Canadian players, could play a decisive role in the Knights' success in the upcoming matches.
With a well-balanced side on paper and a strong tournament history, the Vancouver Knights are poised for a formidable challenge. A lot will depend on their performance in the initial stages, as a strong start could make them a tough team to beat not only in the forthcoming match but also throughout the entire tournament.
After a disappointing finish at the bottom of the table in their debut season, the Toronto Nationals are determined to build on their progress and contend for their first title in the upcoming tournament. Despite a slow start, they showed significant improvement, eventually securing a playoff spot in the 2019 edition.
The team's lineup features seasoned all-rounders, led by the legendary power hitter and leg spinner, Shahid Afridi, along with Colin Munro and Zimbabwe's match winner, Sikander Raza. Complementing these stars are other notable players like Fazal Farooqi, Zaman Khan, Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, Gerhard Erasmus, and JJ Smit. Adding to the team's strength is the leadership of Saad Bin Zafar, the Captain of the Canadian National team.
While the Toronto Nationals boast a formidable combination of youth and experience, their average age in the squad may be a concern for the format. However, if they can strike a balance between experience and athleticism, they have the potential to start the competition on a solid note and become strong contenders in the tournament.
Weather Report
This part of Canada - Brampton gets notoriously cold in the winters but the summers offer perfect weather for playing the game. The temperatures are likely to hover in the late teens with pretty much no chances of rain. This also means that the surface is unlikely to change over the course of forty overs. Besides, these are early days in the tournament and no team would want to go first on a surface that has plenty of unknowns earthed under it. For that and the other reasons stated, expect the captain to win the toss to elect to field first.
Pitch Report
These are early days in the tournament and not a lot is known about the surface or the conditions. We expect both sides to take it a little slow, especially at the starts of their respective innings. Having said that, the cool weather would give a wee bit of an advantage to the quicker bowlers. Keeping all that into consideration, the team batting first should be fairly happy if they manage to score anything over 170 runs in total.
Team News
- Saim Ayub is playing for Pakistan-A against India-A and will not be available for this match.
VAK vs TON Probable 11
VAK Playing 11
- Mohammad Rizwan (C)
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Reeza Hendricks
- Corbin Bosch
- Najid Zadran
- Vritya Anand
- Ruben Trumpelmann
- Naveen ul Haq
- Junaid Siddiqui
- Ravinderpal Singh
- Rayyan Pathan
TON Playing 11
- Colin Munro (Wk)
- Abdullah Shafiq
- Zaman Khan
- Hamza Tariq
- Gerhard Erasmus
- J Smit
- Saad Bin Zafar
- Shahid Afridi (C)
- Fazalhaq Farooqui
- Sikandar Raza
- Armaan Kapoor
Dream11 Prediction
Check out the Dream11 fantasy team lineup for the 2nd match of the Canada GT20. The match is to be played between Vancouver Knights and Toronto Nationals. Don’t forget to check back the latest updated team lineup right after the toss.
Top Picks
VAK vs TON Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: Mohammad Rizwan (VC)
Batters: Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, J Smit, Reeza Hendricks
All-rounders: Sikandar Raza (C), Shahid Afridi, Gerhard Merwe Erasmus, Corbin Bosch
Bowlers: Naveen Ul Haq , Fazalhaq Farooqui
