Kaleem Sana is a Canada left-arm fast bowler who will represent Chitwan Rhinos in NPL Season 3. Born in Rawalpindi, he debuted first-class for Pakistan Customs at fifteen, making his T20I debut fourteen years later in 2022. His calling card is a GT20 Canada hat-trick: 4 for 13 for Montreal Tigers against Toronto Nationals. He played five matches at the 2024 T20 World Cup, including 13 not out against Pakistan with a six off Naseem Shah, and is the only left-arm quick in the attack.
The only pure overseas bowler among the three signings, his four overs are the attack's irreplaceable quota. His new-ball angle pairs with Airee's seam for the classic powerplay examination in the Nepal Premier League 2026.
About Kaleem Sana
Kaleem Sana is the freshest of Chitwan's three overseas signings and its only left-arm quick — a structural point of difference in an attack otherwise built on right-arm seam and spin. Born in Rawalpindi and now a Canada international, his road to the NPL ran fourteen years from a first-class debut for Pakistan Customs at fifteen to a T20I debut in 2022. His calling card is the GT20 Canada hat-trick for Montreal Tigers: 4 for 13 against Toronto Nationals.
Fourteen years separate the fifteen-year-old debuting for Pakistan Customs and the T20I debut in 2022 — a first-class apprenticeship longer than most T20 careers. Five matches at the 2024 T20 World Cup, including an unbeaten 13 against Pakistan with a six off Naseem Shah, made him a Canada regular. His first NPL contract is Chitwan buying the finished product: a left-arm quick with a wicket-taking burst and a late-order six in him.
Playing style and strengths
Sana's point of difference is structural: he is Chitwan's only left-arm quick in an attack otherwise built on right-arm seam and spin. The left-arm angle across right-hand batters — the ball slanting in, straightening away, the lbw and the outside edge both in play — is a matchup T20 captains ration carefully. New-ball swing is the natural home for that angle: two or three overs up front where lateral movement is at its most dangerous, setting the tone before the spinners take over.
The GT20 hat-trick is the wicket-taking credential — 4 for 13 in a four-over spell is a match flipped in one burst — and the 13 not out against Pakistan, six included off Naseem Shah, says the batting is not a write-off. A number ten or eleven who has hit an international quick for six changes death-over calculations: the tail does not start where opponents expect it to. For a first NPL contract, the package is exactly what the brief asked for: difference, not duplication.
Kaleem Sana's role at Chitwan Rhinos in Season 3
Sana's Season 3 role is the new-ball spearhead from the left — the natural partner for Kamal Singh Airee's right-arm seam. A left-right new-ball pairing is T20's oldest matchup trick: the batters' eyeline and footwork reset every over, the lbw comes into play from both ends, and the powerplay becomes a two-angle examination. With Airee's 15 T20I wickets at 14.80 as the domestic reference, Sana is the overseas pace premium — the bowler captain Kushal Malla turns to when the innings needs breaking open.
He is also the only pure overseas bowler of the three signings — Bopara and Raza are all-rounders — which makes his four overs the attack's irreplaceable quota. A first NPL contract means league-conditions adjustment: new venues, new batters, the evening conditions that shape Nepali T20. But a bowler who took a hat-trick in a franchise league and held his nerve against Pakistan at a World Cup has adjusted before.
Player details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kaleem Sana |
| Date of birth | 1 January 1994 |
| Birthplace | Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
| Country | Canada |
| Playing role | Bowler |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Left-arm medium-fast |
Kaleem Sana at NPL 2026
Season-by-season NPL figures for Kaleem Sana.
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Chitwan Rhinos | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Kaleem Sana career records
Available career figures from the verified record.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best | 100s / 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 World Cup 2024 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — |
Records & achievements
- Hat-trick for Montreal Tigers against Toronto Nationals — 4 for 13 in GT20 Canada
- Five matches for Canada at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
- Unbeaten 13 against Pakistan, including a six off Naseem Shah
- First-class debut for Pakistan Customs at fifteen; T20I debut fourteen years later
- First NPL contract — the freshest of Chitwan's three overseas faces
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Kaleem Sana play for in NPL Season 3?
Kaleem Sana plays for Chitwan Rhinos in NPL Season 3.
Which country does Kaleem Sana represent?
Canada — he is Chitwan's Canadian overseas signing.
What is Kaleem Sana's role?
A left-arm medium-fast bowler; he bats right-handed.
How old is Kaleem Sana?
32 — born 1 January 1994 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Follow Chitwan Rhinos
Chitwan Rhinos squad lists each player’s Season 3 recruitment status. Auction prices refer to the listed auction transaction only; overseas signings are contracted separately by the franchise.
Sources
Player details above are drawn from the verified reports linked here. A signing confirms squad membership, not selection or availability for every match.