Singh Bajwa as he slams first ‘ton’ by Canadian cricketer

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The pandemic played havoc with the lives of hundreds of thousands around the world. But in the case of star batsman Dilpreet Singh Bajwa, it turned out to be a blessing.

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The 21-year-old who immigrated to Canada in 2020 along with his parents received a telephone call from a club in Punjab asking that he return home, but disruption in flights and with COVID-19 still running rampant, he shelved plans of returning to India and stayed put in Burnaby, B.C.

“My club in Punjab received reports that I was batting well for Centurions Cricket Club in B.C. and that I had been called up to represent Canada,’’ Bajwa said.

Ironically, Bajwa left India after being denied the opportunity of advancing his career.

“Not being able to get a flight back to India was possibly the best thing that could happen to me,” Bajwa said. “It must have been God’s plans that I stay in Canada. And I will never forget that call informing me that I was selected to play for Canada.”

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Bajwa was thrilled that he was finally being recognized, something he had longed for in the country he was born, but due to some antiquated system, Bajwa was ignored.

He represented Gurdaspur in Punjab, but that club fell in the minor districts category and that meant his chances of moving up the ladder for national consideration were limited. Even his coach Rakesh Marshal, who ran a cricket academy in Gurdaspur, was convinced Bajwa had the makings of a national player.

It was then that Bajwa’s father Harpreet Singh, who worked in the agricultural department, and his mother Harleen Kaur, a government teacher, were convinced that their son would never get the opportunity of representing India.

So they decided to pack their bags and head to Canada in 2020, hoping for a better start. It was a move that is beginning to pay dividends.

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In three years, the brilliant attacking batsman has made his mark on the local scene and he was picked to play by Montreal Tigers of the professional Global T20 League.

The six-team league that pulled up shutters during the pandemic is in its fourth season and attracts top-notch stars from around the world. And Bajwa hasn’t been overwhelmed with the world-class stars that he now rubs shoulders with.

In fact, the all-rounder who represented Canada in the recent World Twenty20 Cup is being considered one of the stars of the Montreal squad after becoming the first Canadian to blast a century in the league.

In an exhilarating innings, the 21-year-old right-hander clobbered his 100 off just 55 balls against Brampton to help Montreal post 166 for seven and then dispatch Brampton for 124. Bajwa delighted the crowd of some 4,500 at the CAA Centre in Brampton with a magnificent hard-hitting innings that included six sixes and 10 fours.

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“I am excited about hitting this century,” he said, “and I must thank my captain Chris (Lynn) for giving me the opportunity to open the batting. It was my first time opening and I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

“This league provides fantastic exposure for Canadian players to showcase their talents on a bigger stage.”

Lynn, a former Australian international batsman known for his own prolific batting prowess, was thrilled with Bajwa’s innings.

“Dilpreet was amazing in the field and it was his day,” Lynn said.

Among other stars to congratulate Bajwa on his knock were West Indies stars Andre Russell, Carlos Braithwaite and Sherfane Rutherford.

Russell, a white-ball legend who played with Montreal last season and is now with Los Angeles Knight Riders of Major Cricket League in the U.S, texted him after learning of the century.

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“Andre was always helping me out last season handing me several tips and also encouraging me,” Bajwa said. “That’s why I treasured hearing from him.”

The new star is now hoping this century will open new doors for him.

“I aim to play professionally and I have the backing of my parents. Hopefully I will be picked by the some of the white-ball leagues and my aim of course will be to find a spot with a squad in the Indian Premier League.”

He also is keen on producing more runs on a consistent basis for the national team, where he says skipper Saad Bin Zafar and fast bowler Dilon Heyliger have been a constant source of encouragement.

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The GT20 league is now on the final stretch with the top four in the six-team league advancing to the playoffs to be contested on Friday and Saturday, with the final set for Sunday at noon.

Montreal Tigers leads the table with nine points with Brampton Wolves and Bangla Tigers Mississauga tied for second place with eight points, and Toronto Nationals a point behind in fourth spot.

Meanwhile, the GT20 has been raising funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. GT20 will donate $100 (Canadian) for every six hit during the three-week long tournament.

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