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By Peter Della Penna
The USA Cricket Association has announced the squad that will compete
in Hong Kong next month at ICC World Cricket League Division 3 from
January 22-29.
Four new players are included in the 14-man squad, but Neil McGarrell
is not one of them. According to several sources, the team announcement
was delayed because McGarrell was included in the list sent in by USACA
to the ICC, but the ICC had doubts about his eligibility and would not
clear him to play.
Asif Mehmood Khan
comes in as the left-arm spin option USA desperately needed. He has
produced a string of consistent performances in USACA tournaments and
figures to play a large role for USA in Hong Kong. Ryan Corns is
included in his first tour with the senior team after excelling at the
U-19 level. Ritesh Kadu has been included as a backup wicketkeeper while
Durale Forrest makes the team as an allround pace bowling option.
The team will depart from New York for Hong Kong on Saturday, January
15 and will arrive the next day. USACA is hoping to arrange at least
one or two warmup matches for the team in the leadup to the event.
USA will face the host team Hong Kong in its first official match of
the tournament on the 22nd. The team will then face Denmark the next day
before its first off day on the 24th. USA then plays Papua New Guinea
and Oman on back-to-back days before another off day on the 27th and
then wraps up round-robin play against Italy on the 28th.
USA squad: Steve Massiah (captain, New York), Sushil Nadkarni
(vice-captain, Central West), Orlando Baker (Central West), Ryan Corns
(Central West), Lennox Cush (New York), Kevin Darlington (New York),
Durale Forrest (Atlantic), Muhammad Ghous (Atlantic), Ritesh Kadu (South
West), Asif Mehmood Khan (Central East), Rashard Marshall (New York),
Aditya Thyagarajan (South West), Usman Shuja (Central West), Carl Wright
(New York).
Imran Khan – Manager
Clayton Lambert – Coach
Howard Johnson – Assistant Coach
Akhtar Masood Syed - Physio