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Several competitive teams are vying for the Super Eight qualification in Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Canada and the United Arab Emirates will clash in a crucial match as both teams will try to secure their first points in the group stage. Neither team has won yet. Both need a win here.
Canada qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup after topping the Americas Regional Qualifier with an unbeaten record. This showcased their growing skills in associate cricket. Their team combines experienced batsmen like Navneet Dhaliwal and Yuvraj Samra with bowling options like Shivam Sharma and Kaleem Sana. This gives them a balanced lineup. Despite a tough opening defeat against South Africa, they showed resilience and batting prowess that could prove crucial in this competition. They competed well against a top team.
UAE is led by captain Muhammad Wasim. They come into this match hungry for a win after a narrow defeat in their tournament opener. It was a close match. They competed. UAE have made competitive scores in recent white-ball tournaments and have outstanding players like Wasim and Alishan Sharafoo. With their bowling depth and middle-order firepower, they are expected to challenge Canada’s batting. They have the weapons.
This match is crucial for both teams. A win could boost their chances of progressing from the tough Group D stage. A loss would make it difficult to enter the qualifiers. This is a must-win match for both teams.
| Format | Matches | CAN Won | UAE Won | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The only previous T20I meeting between these sides saw the UAE win by 14 runs, giving them a slight psychological edge in this fixture.
| No. | Canada Player | Role | United Arab Emirates Player | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dilpreet Bajwa (c) | Allrounder | Muhammad Waseem (c) | Opening batter |
| 2 | Navneet Dhaliwal | Middle-order batter | Haider Ali | Bowler |
| 3 | Dilon Heyliger | Bowler | Junaid Siddique | Bowler |
| 4 | Ajayveer Hundal | Allrounder | Harshit Kaushik | Allrounder |
| 5 | Jaskaran Singh | Bowler | Mayank Kumar | Opening batter |
| 6 | Kaleem Sana | Bowler | Muhammad Arfan | Bowler |
| 7 | Nicholas Kirton | Batting allrounder | Muhammad Farooq | Allrounder |
| 8 | Shreyas Movva | Wicketkeeper batter | Muhammad Jawadullah | Bowler |
| 9 | Ansh Patel | Bowler | Muhammad Rohid | Bowler |
| 10 | Ravinderpal Singh | Batter | Muhammad Zohaib | Opening batter |
| 11 | Saad Bin Zafar | Allrounder | Dhruv Parashar | Allrounder |
| 12 | Yuvraj Samra | Opening batter | Alishan Sharafu | Opening batter |
| 13 | Shivam Sharma | Allrounder | Aryansh Sharma | Wicketkeeper batter |
| 14 | Kanwarpal Tathgur | Wicketkeeper batter | Simranjeet Singh | Bowler |
| 15 | Harsh Thaker | Allrounder | Sohaib Khan | Middle-order batter |
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| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Pitch Nature | Typically flat and batting-friendly |
| Batting Support | Runs available for batters once settled |
| New Ball Behaviour | Fast bowlers can extract bounce early |
| Spin Factor | Spin becomes important in middle overs |
| Match Pattern | High scores often posted in T20s |
| Average T20 Score Range | Around 165–185 |
| Toss Strategy | Batting first helps set a target on a flat deck |
Canada has a strong batting line-up with experienced players like Navneet Dhaliwal and Yuvraj Samara who know how to build an innings. They have a bowling attack led by Shivam Sharma and fast bowling options that can take wickets. They have T20 batting depth that can challenge the Associate Nations on their day.
Their concern is that they struggled against top teams in the opening group matches. South Africa beat them comfortably. They need consistency in completing overs when the pressure is on.
Key players to watch include Navneet Dhaliwal who is a reliable top-order scorer with experience in T20 cricket. Harsh Thakur is an adaptable batsman who can pick up pace when needed. Shivam Sharma is a disciplined wicket-taker who bowls a tight line.
UAE have a balanced team with batting firepower like Muhammad Wasim and Alishan Sharafoo who score runs quickly. They have a variety of bowlers like Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Arfan who bowl in different styles. They are competitive in the middle overs and provide all-round options that offer flexibility.
Their concern is that they lost a key all-rounder from the team due to disciplinary issues off the field. This weakens their balance. Their bowling against strong batting teams lacks their openers.
Key players to watch are Muhammad Wasim who is the captain and main batsman and team leader. Alishan Sharafoo is an aggressive top order run scorer who attacks from the start. Junaid Siddique is their strike bowler and wicket-taker who should perform here.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the captain can choose to bat first to make a competitive score on a batting-friendly deck and then put pressure on the scoreboard in the afternoon conditions. Delhi pitches are batting-friendly. Scoring 170 or more puts pressure on the chasing team.
| Team | Winning Chance (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 60% | More experience and balanced lineup. |
| Canada | 40% | Competitive batting and potential in bowling. |
Cricbites Prediction: UAE will win due to their balanced batting depth and previous head-to-head success, but Canada’s spirited approach and performance in the tournament at home make this match equally competitive.
The clash between Canada and UAE in Group D is a crucial one that could shape both teams’ journeys in the T20 World Cup 2026. Expect Canada to rely on measured batting and disciplined bowling while UAE will look to impose their experience and middle-order strength. Both teams have quality. Both teams need to win.
With both teams eager for their first win, this match promises key individual battles and tactical changes in the middle overs and strategic toss decisions that could influence the final outcome. The team that performs better will win. Small margins will decide this match.
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This preview and prediction is based on verified teams and points table reference, pitch expectations and recent form. Cricket results can vary significantly depending on the conditions of the day and the results of the toss and individual performances.
Canada’s captain in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is Dilpreet Bajwa.
United Arab Emirates’ captain in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is Muhammad Wasim.
Canada will face United Arab Emirates on February 13, 2026. This match is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM IST.
The CAN vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, India.
This match is the 20th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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