Series – Part 2

Sanjayan Thuraisingam: The Man Who Opened Canada's Door to the World Cup

In tracing the stories of athletes with Tamil roots who have made their mark in world sport, one name stands alongside a significant period in Canadian cricket: Sanjayan Thuraisingam.

Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and later a representative of Canada, Thuraisingam deserves to be remembered for more than being a Tamil Canadian cricketer who played in the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He was a key player in opening Canada's door to that tournament, taking five wickets in the decisive qualifying match.

Before that, he had represented Canada against leading cricket nations such as Australia and India at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He later secured another place in history as the captain who led Canada in its first Twenty20 International.

Born in Colombo on September 11, 1969, he played as a right-handed batter and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

An interesting aspect of his cricketing journey connects him with India. He began playing cricket while studying at university there. His subsequent rise to Canada's national team left a distinctive mark on international cricket.

The 1998 Commonwealth Games: Facing the World's Leading Players

Cricket was included in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thuraisingam was a member of Canada's team.

Although Canada lost to Australia, he took the only Australian wicket to fall. It was no ordinary wicket: the dismissed batter was Adam Gilchrist, who would become one of the world's most celebrated attacking batters.

In that match, Thuraisingam bowled five overs, conceding just 14 runs and taking one wicket.

He also bowled for Canada against India in the same tournament. Playing against an Indian team that included internationally renowned players such as Sachin Tendulkar was another notable experience in his early international journey.

But the match that would firmly establish his name in Canadian cricket history came three years later.

Five Wickets That Opened Canada's Door to the World Cup

The 2001 ICC Trophy, held in Canada, served as a qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Thuraisingam was not only one of Canada's best bowlers in that competition but also the team's leading wicket-taker. He claimed 19 wickets in nine matches at a bowling average of 15.00.

His consistent bowling also earned him a place in CricInfo's selected team of the tournament.

Five of those 19 wickets, however, changed the course of Canadian cricket history.

On July 17, 2001, Canada met Scotland at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.

Although it was the third-place play-off, its significance was much greater: the winning team would secure the final qualifying place for the 2003 World Cup.

With Scotland batting first, Thuraisingam produced one of the most important bowling performances of his life. In eight overs, including two maidens, he conceded just 25 runs and took five wickets.

James Williamson, Dougie Lockhart, Colin Smith, Craig Wright and John Blain were the five batters dismissed by his bowling.

Scotland were restricted to 176 for nine in 50 overs. Chasing a target of 177, Canada reached it in 39.5 overs with five wickets down.

Canada won by five wickets.

With that victory, the door to the 2003 Cricket World Cup opened for Canada.

Thuraisingam was named Player of the Match in that historic contest.

Eight overs, 25 runs, five wickets — and, at the end of it, World Cup qualification for a country. It remains an unforgettable achievement in both his career and Canadian cricket history.

Representing Canada at the 2003 World Cup

Two years later, Thuraisingam took the field as a Canadian national team player in the World Cup he had helped his country reach.

He made his One Day International debut against Bangladesh in Durban, South Africa, on February 11, 2003.

Batting first, Canada scored 180. Bangladesh were then bowled out for 120, giving Canada a 60-run victory.

In his very first ODI, Thuraisingam dismissed the prominent Bangladeshi batter Habibul Bashar.

He also took two wickets in the World Cup match against Kenya on February 15, 2003.

The match against Sri Lanka in Paarl on February 19, 2003, then became a distinctive moment in his life.

Born in Colombo, Thuraisingam was now appearing at a World Cup for Canada's national team against the country of his birth.

After Canada were bowled out for 36, Sri Lanka chased a target of 37. It was Thuraisingam who dismissed Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya leg before wicket.

Jayasuriya had scored nine runs. It was the only wicket Sri Lanka lost in the match.

Although Sri Lanka won by nine wickets, the moment when a Colombo-born Tamil Canadian bowled for Canada against Sri Lanka at a World Cup and took Jayasuriya's wicket became a notable entry in his international career.

Thuraisingam played three matches in the 2003 World Cup.

His International Journey Continued

His journey with Canada's national team continued after the World Cup. He represented Canada in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the 2005 ICC Trophy.

On August 5, 2006, he took four wickets for 35 runs in an ODI against Kenya in Toronto. This was his best bowling performance in One Day Internationals.

His final ODI was against Bermuda in King City on July 1, 2008. He bowled ten overs in that match, taking two wickets for 33 runs.

In total, Thuraisingam played ten One Day Internationals for Canada. He scored 45 runs and took 13 wickets, with best ODI bowling figures of four for 35.

Canada's First Twenty20 International Captain

His career contains another important historical distinction.

He was Canada's first Twenty20 International captain.

Canada played its first T20 International against the Netherlands in Belfast on August 2, 2008. Thuraisingam led the team.

The Netherlands were bowled out for 97. He bowled three overs, taking one wicket for 15 runs.

Chasing 98, Canada scored 99 for six in 19.3 overs and won by four wickets.

In other words, Canada's T20 International history began with a victory under Thuraisingam's leadership.

He played three T20 Internationals for Canada, recording 18 runs and two wickets.

From Player to Coach

Thuraisingam did not leave cricket behind after his international playing career.

Having obtained a Level 2 coaching qualification from Cricket Australia, he began working in cricket training camps from 2013. He subsequently continued developing young players as head coach at ActionZone Cricket Academy.

At various times, he has also contributed to selection and training activities involving Canada's national team. His cricketing journey continues as a coach passing on his international experience to the next generation.

His achievements cannot be measured by statistics alone.

The player who took Adam Gilchrist's wicket at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Canada's leading wicket-taker at the 2001 ICC Trophy.

The Player of the Match who took five for 25 against Scotland in a decisive contest and helped Canada reach the World Cup.

A player who represented Canada at the 2003 World Cup.

The Colombo-born cricketer who took Sanath Jayasuriya's wicket against the country of his birth at that World Cup.

Canada's first T20 International captain in 2008.

Taken together, these achievements give Thuraisingam a distinctive place in both Canadian cricket history and Tamil sporting history.

But the date that will always remain associated with his name is July 17, 2001.

The five wickets he took that day were more than a bowler's individual achievement.

They were the five wickets that opened Canada's door to the World Cup. Recording this chapter in Canadian cricket history, our “Eelam Tamil Footprints in World Sport” series will continue to seek out people of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage who have made their mark in football, cricket, athletics and other sports across the world.