We have the 18-man squad for the US as they start a five match T20I series with Canada followed by a three match series with Bangladesh.
The squad is: Monank Patel (captain), Aaron Jones (VC), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Gajanand Singh, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Usman Rafiq.
Reserve players – Juanoy Drysdale, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir.
The good news: Corey Freaking Anderson! Andries Gous! Finally. Harmeet Singh is a great pick, as is Nitish Kumar, the former Canada captain who moved to Texas. Schadley Van Schalkwyk could be a difference-maker if he gets to play. Noshtush Kenjige and Saurabh Netravalkar are reliable, solid players who deserve a spot.
The bad news: Monank Patel and Aaron Jones continue to be the captain and vice captain after several miserable 50-over team performances of late. I’m not sure what these guys would have to do to turn over the leadership to others. It must be unimaginably bad. They are good players, but there is very little evidence they should be leading a team with Anderson, Gous, van Schalkwyk, and Nitish Kumar, among others, who could be doing the job.
The bad news gets two paragraphs. Nisarg Patel and Usman Rafiq have not demonstrated that they should be on this team, and both will almost certainly sit every game. It’s baffling why they were selected. They don’t provide depth and they are both north of 35, so youth is not being served. They both seem like they are being rewarded for something other than cricket performance, which is frankly pathetic.
Then there is the huh? news: Shayan Jahangir was only picked as a reserve. He’s been the best bat in the US setup for more than a year. One hopes that they are looking for an excuse for Rafiq or Nisarg to get “hurt” so they can get Jahangir in the lineup without ruffling any USA Cricket board members’ feathers. Again, pathetic.
The first match is this Sunday, April 7 at Prairie View Cricket Complex at 10 am CT. It may or may not be on the USA Cricket YouTube page. You’ll have to find out the same as I do.