Canadian internationals Ashish Bagai and Harvir Singh Baidwan took off from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last week, bound for Sri Lanka, where the pair is to gain important playing experience in the Sri Lankan Premier Division. Both are expected to be in Sri Lanka until the end of the first class season, that translates into being the end of December.

Bagai, Canada’s current international captain and a wicketkeeper/batsman, is the more experienced player, and has opted to play international cricket at the expense, at least in the short-term, of a career in banking. Bagai is 27 years old and was born in Delhi, India. He has represented Canada since 1996 at Under-15, Under-19 and senior levels. He also played for an ICC Americas Under-19 side in the ICC U19 World Cup before Canada took part as a separate country. He developed with the Toronto Cricket Academy and plays for the Toronto Cricket Club in the Toronto and District Elite Division.

Baidwan is a promising younger pace-bowling prospect, with potential to become an all-rounder, who could play a key role in Canada’s efforts at the 2011 Cricket World Cup on the sub-continent. He played with Yorkshire and now Toronto Cricket Club in the Toronto and District Cricket Association, as well as for Ryerson University.

Baidwan looking forward to the opportunity

Harvir Baidwan disclosed “I’m leaving for Colombo tonight. I’m playing in the first-class season with the Colts Cricket Club.” A broad smile came over his face, when asked which well known Sri Lankan players are with Colts. “The main (one) is the skipper, Chaminder Vaas. So I’m looking forward to it. ”

Vaas has played some 111 test matches and 321 ODI matches for Sri Lanka. In mid-year he announced his retirement from test cricket, but wishes to continue playing ODIs until the end of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Baidwan, mentioned learning from Vaas and other bowlers of “similar kind, working with the pace bowlers, learning the tricks.”

“So, looking forward to it, especially as things are different on the sub-continent. Things are very hard for the bowlers, especially the pace-bowlers. So I’m looking forward to it, getting all the experience which he (Vaas) has, and focussing on the World Cup.”

I mentioned how pace-bowling on the sub-continent seems to have progressed in the last 20 or 30 years on the sub-continent with the rise of the likes of Imran Kham and Wasim Akram (to name just two from different cricketing generations), as well as Australian pace star Denis Lillee running coaching and training programs for pace bowlers.

Harvir quickly mentioned “But that’s the good thing about it, right. For pace bowlers it’s really hard, especially in the sub-continent. Like I said, you have to learn something new. You have to be dead-on with the subcontinent’s wickets.”

“Nowadays it’s a batsman’s game. That’s why it’s very hard for the bowlers. Working with Chaminder Vaas, it’s going to be amazing stuff. Getting all the tips, whatever he has for me. ”

Harvir chuckled at the thought of the ball speeding to the boundary on a regular basis if a bowler strays off line and length in the unforgiving conditions of the subcontinent.

But for now Harvir Baidwan was dreaming of success for his new Colts colleagues, and clearly respects his new skipper, Chaminder Vaas. “ Playing for his team and making his team win the tournament” was the clear short-term target.

It was time to part company, with best wishes to Harvir Baidwan, and Ashish Bagai, for success in Sri Lanka. Canadian National Coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, himself a former Sri Lankan international, who closed his international playing career in Canada’s colours was at the airport, underline his support for this venture.

It will be a major leap, especially for Harvir Baidwan, from indoor nets and fitness training supervised by former National Coach Andy Pick during the 2006-2007 winter at Qasra Sports in North Etobicoke, to playing in Colombo. Pick had a vision for Canada’s leading players, if not Canadian cricket, that went beyond CWC2007 through to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier, and the 2011 World Cup.

A vision that had already seen some volunteers restore turf wickets to Toronto’s G. Ross Lord Park in 2006 to assist the national team. But those wickets have been ruined, so matting will be in use as the TJT National Cricket League wraps up this weekend at the ground with T20 semi-finals (10 am) and finals (2pm) on Sunday.

During the Canadian winter, Canada’s senior cricketers will visit Dubai for an ICC T20 World Cup qualifier, and in January the Under-19s will be at the ICC U19 CWC in New Zealand.