Canada vs Nepal, the 12th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Warm-up Matches 2026, promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams fine-tune their preparations for the main event. Scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the game kicks off at 3:30 PM local time (1:00 PM IST).
This warm-up clash is crucial for both Canada and Nepal to iron out strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup proper. Canada seeks momentum after a mixed bag in recent qualifiers, while Nepal aims to build confidence following strong showings against minnows. A win here boosts morale, tests bench strength, and provides vital data on subcontinental conditions—key for associate nations eyeing upsets in the tournament.
Chepauk’s pitch is a classic spin-friendly surface that often assists turners as the game progresses, especially under the floodlights. Early on, it offers decent pace and bounce for seamers with the new ball, but batsmen need to rotate strike smartly against spinners who dominate later. Average first-innings scores hover around 150-160 in T20s here, rewarding teams that adapt quickly.
Chennai in early February typically brings warm, humid conditions with temperatures around 28-32°C and partly cloudy skies. Expect minimal rain risk—less than 10% chance—but dew could play a factor in the second innings, favoring the chasing side. Light winds might aid swing early.
NEP vs CAN Match Details
- Match: 12th Warm-up Match
- Teams: Nepal vs Canada,
- Date: 05 Feb 2026
- Time: 12:30 PM
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
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Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 12th T20 World Cup warm-up match will be live on Star Sports.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Probable Playing XI:
Canada Probable XI: Nicholas Kirton (c), Rayyan Pathan, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Fernando, Dillon Heyliger, Nikhil Dutta, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Rishiv Joshi, Utkarsh Makwana.
Nepal Probable XI: Aasif Sheikh (wk), Tony Pal, Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Anil Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Abinash Bohara, Sandeep Lamichhane.
Head-to-Head Summary
Canada and Nepal have met 3 times historically, with Nepal edging ahead at 2 wins to Canada’s 1, no ties or no-results. In T20Is specifically, it’s split 1-1 from 2 games. Last five meetings (including ODIs): Nepal won 3, Canada 1, one shared spoils—Nepal’s latest thriller saw them pip Canada by a narrow margin. Key stat: Nepal’s highest vs Canada is 139, lowest 109; Canada’s 140 and 80.
Team Form and Momentum
Canada enters on a high, having beaten Bermuda by 6 wickets, Bahamas by 7 wickets, and Cayman Islands by 42 runs in recent outings. Their batting has clicked, with top-order stability chasing down totals comfortably, though bowling depth needs scrutiny. Nepal counters with impressive wins over Samoa (124 runs), Oman (38 runs), and Qatar (5 runs), showcasing explosive all-round play. Both sides are peaking, but Nepal’s bowling variety gives them an edge in recent momentum.
Key Talking Points
Watch for Nepal’s spin duo exploiting Chepauk’s grip versus Canada’s aggressive top order. Nicholas Kirton’s captaincy and batting form will be tested, as will Rohit Paudel’s ability to anchor innings. Dew factor could tilt toss toward bowling first, and both teams’ death bowling will decide if chases go deep. Player fitness post-travel is another subplot.
Canada Team Analysis
Canada’s strength lies in a balanced top order and seam attack suited to pace-friendly starts. Nicholas Kirton leads with poise, backed by explosive openers. Weaknesses? Spin vulnerability and middle-order collapses under pressure. Recent performances show batting resilience, but they leaked runs against spin in prep games. Key players: Kirton (consistent anchor), all-rounder Harsh Thaker (wickets plus runs), and pacer Nikhil Dutta for breakthroughs.
Nepal Team Analysis
Nepal thrives on spin wizardry and power-hitting, with home-like conditions in Chennai suiting their subcontinental style. Strengths include versatile all-rounders and chasing prowess; weaknesses surface in batting collapses if spinners strike early. They’ve dominated recent games with disciplined bowling. Standouts: Rohit Paudel (middle-order rock), Aasif Sheikh (opener’s aggression), Dipendra Singh Airee (match-winner with bat/ball), and Sompal Kami’s pace.
Match Prediction
Nepal holds a slight edge due to superior recent form, spin-heavy attack tailor-made for Chepauk, and head-to-head upper hand. Canada’s batting firepower could trouble if dew aids chase, but Nepal’s all-round depth and momentum tip the scales. Expect a tight contest, with Nepal winning by 10-15 runs defending 155 or chasing in 19 overs. Squad balance and conditions favor the South Asians.