A profile os Ashish Bagai by Dave Liverman

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Player:

A Bagai

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Although born in India, Aasish Bagai is very much a home grown Canadian player, a talented wicket-keeper and batsman who offers much potential for the future of Canadian cricket. After starring in various youth tournaments, Bagai made an effective transition to the senior squad and was an essential member of the team that qualified for the World Cup in Toronto in 2001. A small, slightly built man he is a neat ‘keeper, economical in movement and effective standing up and back. As a bat he has a solid defence, tends to favour shots square to the wicket and is skillful in placement to find the gaps. Perhaps his greatest strength is his temperament, where he has shown the ability to remain calm under tremendous pressure. His innings that took Canada to a thrilling last-over victory against UAE at the ICC Trophy showed maturity beyond his years, and followed a night spent in hospital after being struck in the face whilst keeping.

He captained the Americas team at the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, topping the batting averages. He then took a Canadian squad to the 2002 event, where his unbeaten 82 took Canada to a tie with Bangladesh.

(Article: Copyright © 2002 Dave Liverman)