Alberta’s Hamza Tariq makes a case for return to national team while Cricket Canada fires COO

Former Canada international star blasted a century in helping Alberta thrash British Columbia in the final of the national championship.

Published Aug 25, 2026  •  4 minute read

Cricketer Hamza Tariq at a northeast cricket grounds in Calgary earlier this year. Mike Drew/Postmedia

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Age is just a number, just ask 36-year-old Alberta captain Hamza Tariq.

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The former Canada international star blasted a sublime century in helping Alberta thrash British Columbia in the final of the national championship played in King City, located 30 km from Toronto.

Hamza was in fine form throughout the week-long championships that attracted squads from each of the country’s 10 provinces.

Cricket fans are well acquainted with this quaint city that is better known as host of King City Craft Beer and Food Truck Festival that draws some 6,000 every June.

Cricket, too, has made its mark at the picturesque Maple Leaf Cricket Club that is located off Dufferin Road and can sit 7,000. It is officially the national team’s home ground, but its remote location and lack of easy transportation keeps many fans away.

To add to its woes, the International Cricket Council in June ruled the ground “unfit and dangerous” for the World Cup League 2 encounter between Canada and the Netherlands, and the match was abandoned.

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But the curators seem to have done a decent job in making the four fields playable for the national championships. It wasn’t top-notch, but the teams were not subject to rising or viciously turning balls. But there is still a great deal of work to be done for it to have the ICC rescind its directive.

The wicket did not bother Tariq, who belted his way into national recognition again with his bat and his tidy work behind the stumps. Like several former internationals, he found himself discarded by former officials after a sterling start to his international career in 2022.

“I was unbeaten in eight of the nine matches I played at the senior level and was shocked when the selectors dropped me,” Tariq said. “I wrote to the selectors requesting the reason for my exclusion, but never did get a response.”

This is no surprise. Several top-class players have over the years fallen victim to the whims of selectors.

“In King City, I again proved that no matter my age I should be given another chance,” he said. “I have maintained my fitness level and am still one of the fastest in the field. And my experience would be beneficial.”

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Apart from his 105 in the final, Tariq led the batting charts with 245 runs and that included 20 boundaries and 15 sixes. He also took seven catches and executed three stumpings.

Tariq learned his craft in Calgary when he was 14 and improved his skills after a three-year spell with the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

“I got to rub shoulders with the likes of greats Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Colin Munro,” he said.

The squad was coached by retired all-rounder Jacques Kallis of South Africa. Kallis, considered the second-best all-rounder behind the late Sir Garry Sobers, made an impact on Tariq.

“He took me aside a couple of times and explained how I should play some strokes. He kept it simple with just a few words,” said Tariq, whose style is reminiscent of Aussie great Ricky Ponting, who excelled with his lofted cover drive.

It’s no surprise that Tariq’s hero is the retired Aussie Adam Gilchrist, who was known for his aggressive batting and work behind the stumps.

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The other Alberta star in the final was Tariq’s opening partner, Sanmeet Singh, who weighed in with an unbeaten 52 off 54 balls. Chasing B.C.’s score of 170 for eight Alberta smashed 173 for one with 10 balls to spare.

Canada international opener Aaron Johnson topped the B.C. side’s scoring with a belligerent 41 off a mere 20 balls with four sixes and three fours before he was brilliantly run out by a direct throw by Warren Campbell.

CRICKET CANADA FIRES COO

According to reliable sources, Cricket Canada has fired its Chief Operating Officer Bhavjit Jauhar.

Jauhar was hired three months ago on an interim basis and his firing has come as a surprise.

ACROSS THE POND TRIP

The annual Cricket Across the Pond (CAP) tour featuring 15 of Ontario’s leading high school cricketers will fly to Britain this week for a number of matches versus their counterparts. Toronto’s Ranil Mendes has been the brains behind this initiative that he kick-started a decade ago and it has picked up steam over the years.

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A week ago, the players had the opportunity of testing their skills with members of England’s Over-60 squad, who were here competing in the world over-60 championship.

Laiba Qureshi, who is a member of the tour, was thrilled to share the field with the English players.

“Today was such a special experience for us,” he said. “Training with players who have been involved in cricket for so many years and are still representing England was really inspiring.”

And Paul Bradley, manager of the England team, added it was a pleasure to spend “time and share some of the experience we have gained through many years in the game.”

He added: “Their visit to England will give them the chance to experience some wonderful cricket grounds, meet different cricket communities and see how the game brings people together across generations and countries.”

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