Bagai injured, Cheema to lead Canada

Canada will be without their captain Ashish Bagai, who sustained a knee injury, for the Caribbean T20 tournament which starts in Barbados on July 22. Batsman Rizwan Cheema will lead the side in Bagai's absence. Canada were invited to participate in the tournament which also involves seven teams from the Caribbean. The winner qualifies for the Champions League Twenty20 to be held in South Africa later in the year.

Khurram Chohan is another player who has been ruled out due to injury - he injured his groin - and he will be replaced by seamer Henry Osinde, who has played six Twenty20 internationals.

Bagai, who also keeps wicket, is one of Canada's most experienced players and he led them in the recently concluded ICC World Cricket League Division One tournament in the Netherlands. He was the second-highest run-getter there, with 284 at an average of 56.80. Canada finished fifth in the competition. Hamza Tariq will take over as wicketkeeper.

Canada will play the tournament opener against Trinidad and Tobago at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.

Canada squad: Rizwan Cheema (capt), Harvir Baidwan, Trevin Bastiampillai, Geoff Barnett, Umar Bhatti, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Parth Desai, Tyson Gordon, Hamza Tariq (wk), Calvert Hooper, Henry Osinde, Hiral Patel, Zubin Sarkari, Usman Limbada.