India’s U-19 World Cup winning captain, Unmukt Chand, found no place in USA’s 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup as former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson picked for the marquee event. While Monak Patel retains his place as the captain, Aaron Jones is named his deputy. USA is making its T20 World Cup debut and co-hosts the 20-team tournament alongside the West Indies.
“USA Cricket (USAC) five member Men’s National Selection Panel has picked its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. The tournament, set to commence on June 1 and jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies, will see Monank Patel lead the team once again. The same squad will also play against Bangladesh in Houston, Texas for the three T20Is bilateral matches ahead of the World Cup,” USA’s official statement read.
Chand, who retired from Indian cricket after failing to make it to the senior team, moved to the USA to ply his trade in several franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide, and eventually represent America in World Cups. After he got snubbed from the squad for the five-match T20Is against Canada, which USA won 4-0, Chand was overlooked in the final 15 for the marquee event.
On the contrary, ex-Kiwi star Corey Anderson, who played two T20 WCs for the BlackCaps before (2014 and 2016), alongside the 2015 50-over World Cup, got picked, returning to play the ICC tournament after a long hiatus.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan U-19 cricketer, Shayan Jahangir, is recalled to the side at the expense of Gajanand Singh, who made scores of 1* and 0 against Canada in the recently-concluded series. Although Jahangir’s exclusion from the Canada series surprised everyone, as he was USA’s leading run-scorer at the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, his last-moment selection brings stability to the side.
Talismanic bowler Ali Khan returned to the side following an injury layoff, as former Canada captain Nitish Kumar found a place in the final 15, thanks to his 64 in his only appearance against Canada. Former Delhi and RCB batter, Milind Kumar, alongside Andries Gous and Steven Taylor make up for the remainder of USA’s batting line up.
Here is USA’s final 15 for the 2024 T20 World Cup –
Monank Patel (captain, wk), Aaron Jones (vice-captain), Andries Gous (wk), Steven Taylor, Corey Anderson, Nitish Kumar, Shayan Jahangir (wk), Milind Kumar, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar, Jessy Singh, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige and Nisarg Patel