Brampton, 12 August: Toronto Nationals, led by Rohit Paudel, emerged as the champions of the Global T20 League Canada 2024, securing the title with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the Montreal Tigers in the final. This victory marks Toronto’s first championship in the tournament’s fourth season.
Under the captaincy of Colin Munro, the Toronto Nationals delivered a stellar and unexpected performance throughout the tournament. Despite finishing fourth in the standings, they fought their way to the playoffs, where they faced Bangla Tigers Mississauga in a dramatic eliminator. The match was nearly abandoned, but a decision to proceed with a super-over led to controversy as Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangla Tigers’ captain, refused to participate, resulting in Toronto being declared the winners by default. They then triumphed over Brampton Wolves in Qualifier 2, earning their place in the final.
Although Rohit Paudel was not part of the playing XI in the final, he contributed by taking a catch as a substitute fielder. Toronto’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Jason Behrendorff, restricted Montreal to a modest 96/9 in their 20 overs, with Behrendorff delivering an outstanding performance, claiming three wickets for just eight runs in his four overs.
Chasing a target of 97, Toronto Nationals reached their goal in 15 overs, losing only two wickets in the process. Andries Gous played a match-winning knock, scoring 58 runs, while Rassie van der Dussen provided solid support with 30 runs.
This victory also places Rohit Paudel in elite company, as he becomes the third Nepalese player to be part of a GT20-winning team, following in the footsteps of Sompal Kami, who won with Winnipeg Hawks in 2019, and Dipendra Singh Airee, who secured the title with Montreal Tigers in 2023.
Rohit Paudel, Nepal’s captain, made his debut in the overseas franchise league during this tournament. Although he missed the first match due to visa issues, he made notable contributions in his limited appearances, including a brilliant run-out and a spectacular catch in his first game. Despite scoring just 10 runs off 25 balls in his second match, his team was bowled out for a mere 81, and he did not get further opportunities to play.
