Cricket Canada dumps skipper Saad Bin Zafar with hopes of ODI status in doubt

Cricket Canada dumps skipper Saad Bin Zafar with hopes of ODI status in doubt One of the country's most celebrated cricketers has been treated with utter disdain by Cricket Canada. Photo by Arun Sankar / Getty Images Article content See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The roar of the Snowbirds over Lake Ontario that captivated hundreds of thousands in and around the Greater Toronto area for the past 55 years have had their wings clipped until the 2030s, when they will be replaced by a new fleet. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Back to video Article content This fly-past officially closed the CNE for another year and signalled the end of summer. Also this same weekend essentially ended the national cricket team's hopes of qualifying for the next One-Day International series (ODI). The ODIs are the lifeline of the game for every associate country and Canada finds itself fighting for survival. It needs a strong finish in its final series against host nation Oman and the United Arab Republic next month to remain in contention. But its hopes took an uppercut to the jaw from its very own board when it ended the illustrious international career of captain Saad Bin Zafar — with a phone call, no less. One of the country's most celebrated cricketers has been treated with utter disdain by Cricket Canada. What a disgrace! Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content A call by a faceless selector who would rather hide behind a telephone instead of a direct meeting with Bin Zafar to explain the reason he is being ushered to the sidelines. Total lack of decency. Lack of class. Bin Zafar's career with Canada Bin Zafar has been the backbone of Canada's national squad for the past 15 years, excelling with bat and ball, and captained the country's inaugural squad in the World Twenty20 Cup in 2024. Canada performed at a high level and, just when it had its sights on advancing to the next round following a stunning upset of Test nation Ireland, it saw its progress scuttled by its very own board. Cricket Canada, in its infinite wisdom, airlifted replacements without consulting the coach and captain. That move destroyed team morale and led to coach Pubudu Dassanayake resigning and filing a case for wrongful dismissal that is still before the courts. Following that debacle, Bin Zafar was recalled to lead his country again for the coming World Cup League 2 matches and this appointment was applauded by those familiar with the game. Then, this weekend a selector tells Bin Zafar his services are no longer required. Bin Zafar was unavailable for comment. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Who else was cut? The Sun also learned that two other seniors — Nicholas Kirton and Pargat Singh — also were cut from the 15-man squad. Kirton is another who has had a horrendous relationship with the board. The former captain lost his armband earlier this year and was then reinstated for the World Cup (50 overs) in India. At an announcement made at the farewell reception hosted by Brampton Patrick Brown at his City Hall, Kirton was named as captain, but once the squad landed in Sri Lanka for warm-up matches, Kirton was unceremoniously dumped in favour of Dilpreet Singh. On the team's return from India, Singh was placed under investigation for corruption by the International Cricket Council and a decision is pending. Bin Zafar and his squad have just returned from Scotland after League matches versus the host nation and the United Arab Republic, where Canada failed to make an impression. One big reason was that several of the players arrived just in time for the encounters as a member of the national board had forgotten to apply for visas in time. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content To make matters worse, the per diem of $100 a day wasn't sufficient for lunch and dinner for players without a contract. The fact that Canada is going into its most crucial series without three experienced players makes one's head shake. It is understood that Harsh Thaker and Shreyas Movya are being considered to replace Bin Zafar and both are short of experience required at this level. Thaker was being groomed by Bin Zafar and could possibly take over, while Movya is far from ready for the big job that also entails on decisions off the field. The coaching post is still vacant as no one has replaced head coach Monty Desai. Desai took charge for a couple of the WCL 3 series before his contract ran out. In the meantime, CC has appointed Amarinder Bhinder as assistant coach of the national squad. What sense does this make? It's the duty of a head coach to pick his staff, not the other way round. The future of the local and international is at stake, thanks to the bumbling of Cricket Canada. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Read More Canada left high and dry in cricket world with war in Middle East Alberta's Hamza Tariq makes a case for return to national team while Cricket Canada fires COO PREMIERS TOPS Mississauga Premiers, led by former Canada international captain Divya Saxena, blasted their way to their third consecutive World T10 championship. Saxena, who stepped out of the national squad after what she termed as 'lack of support for the women's game' was in brilliant form in the tournament with an explosive average of 151 in the series played at the picturesque Max Ward Park in Mississauga. In a nail-biter, Premiers edged Ontario Cricket Academy Hawks on the final ball of the contest. Premiers required 15 runs for victory at the end of the eighth over and then bringing the target down to two runs on the last ball. The bowler of the series was Shriya Vora who finished with a haul of six wickets. Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. 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