11 Best Canadian Cricketers of All-Time, Ranked

Canada isn’t a country renowned for its cricketing prowess. The sport is growing in popularity, however, and plenty of highly talented cricketers have either been born in Canada or represented the nation at international level.

It will be a long time before Canada is among the cricket betting favourites to win the World Cup, but the national team has improved in recent years, including a win over Ireland in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

11 Best Canadian Cricketers of All-Time, Ranked

Who Are the Greatest Ever Cricketers From Canada?

1. Tom Brierley

Tom Brierley emigrated to Canada after the Second World War. He had already enjoyed a significant first-class career with Lancashire and Glamorgan.

Initially, as a player-coach, Brierley became one of the nation’s premier cricket coaches. 

2. Pubudu Dassanayake

Pubudu Dassanayake represented Sri Lanka as a wicketkeeper/batter before moving to Canada later in his career.

He went on to play for Canada in the 2005 ICC Trophy and featured in 2006. 

3. Ashish Bagai

Ashish Bagai’s 1,964 ODI runs are 1,003 more than any other player. He’s one of two players with multiple ODI centuries for Canada, and has 18 more ODI caps than anyone else.

Born in Delhi, Bagai moved to Canada at the age of 11.

4. John Davison

A heavy-hitting top-order batter and off-spin bowler, John Davison was born in Canada to Australian parents. 

After failing to secure a place in state cricket in Australia, Davison returned to Canada and became part of the national team. His highlight in international cricket was a rapid century against the West Indies, which was the fastest in World Cup history at the time.

5. Harsh Thaker

Fourth in T20 runs and averaging 34.21 with the bat in ODIs, Harsh Thaker has been one of the best batters for Canada, and that’s before I get to his 63 international wickets.

Thaker was born in Canada and made his international debut in 2019. 

6. Brian Rajadurai

Starting his career in his native Sri Lanka, Brian Rajadurai appeared for Sri Lanka A before emigrating to Canada and continuing his cricketing career.

He represented Canada in the 1997 ICC Trophy and the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

7. Navneet Dhaliwal

Navneet Dhaliwal is Canada’s all-time leading run scorer in T20 cricket. 

Born in India, Dhaliwal moved to Canada with his family when he was 22. He has been a stalwart of Canada’s white-ball teams since making his international debut in 2015. 

8. Saad Bin Zafar

Saad Bin Zafar is Canada’s current captain and led the team into the 2024 T20 World Cup.

A powerful batter and smart bowler, Bin Zafar has bowled the seventh-most maidens in T20I cricket. 

9. Aaron Johnson

Second in T20 runs and the only player with multiple T20 centuries for Canada, Aaron Johnson moved to Canada in his late teens and debuted for the country a few months after his 31st birthday.

Aside from the two centuries, his rapid 50 against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup is his career highlight. 

10. Kaleem Sana

Second in T20 wickets and tied for the third-most ODI wickets, Kaleem Sana’s left-arm seamers have caused problems for batters throughout his career.

Sana began his career in Pakistan, even appearing for Pakistan under-19s.

11. Dillon Heyliger

Like Sana, Dillon Heyliger has excelled with the ball for Canada. He’s fifth in ODI wickets and third in T20 wickets.

Born in Guyana, Heyliger played club cricket in England, Guyana, and Trinidad before moving to Canada in 2014.