By Peter Simunovich

The United States Cricket Association selectors will take a major step this weekend to begin formulating a squad, which they hope will take the national team to the next World Cup.

The selectors --- Sew Shivnarine, Abrar Ahmad and Sunny Khan --- will be on duty for Eastern and Western Conference games in Maryland this weekend, then in Minnesota in late July and early August and the last series in Houston in early October.

A squad of 20 is expected to be named with Steve Massiah as captain before the final touring party of 14 is selected for the ICC Associates T20 tournament in Dubai in October where the top two teams will advance to the World Cup.

The US team is also scheduled to play in the ICC Division Five 50-over tournament in Nepal in January next year.

This is the first step to the World Cup after the US was given a wildcard by the ICC to qualify for the next World Cup.

“This is absolutely important for the national team for the next 12 months,” said Massiah in an interview with DreamCricket.com. “It is good to know the USACA is keeping an eye on the players and with more talent coming through the better it is.

“In the past we have successfully played at this level. We have talent and I am confident with the team and expect it to do well. I am optimistic about our chances to qualify for the World Cup.

“I know we can handle ourselves against any of the associate members. I believe this is a great opportunity for the US to announce ourselves back in the world competition and rightfully where we belong. We were given a wildcard and now we can show the world that we’re not lacking in talent.

“Right now our main focus is the tournament in Dubai.”

While it is too early to predict what players the selectors will pick, it is fair to say that it probably will be a blend of youth and experience.

US cricket now has a lot of talent and promising players in the Under 19s and some of these players may come under serious consideration.

Don Lockerbie, the USACA Chief Executive Officer, is anxious for the national team to perform well. In recent meetings with ICC board members he made it clear the US board was working hard to repair the disjointed image of the old USACA.

He is now working hard to project a new, united and progressive image. Lockerbie also wants the national team to perform well and reach the next two World Cups to show the international cricket community just how much it has improved both on and off the field.

Ahmad, a selector and co-founder of the Bay Area Cricket Alliance in Northern California and now an advisory committee member, said the US team would now be in a position to show just how much it had improved since the disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy several years ago in England when it finished last.

“The US can showcase its talent to the rest of the cricket world and beyond. We have the talent to polish and to put us on the world cricket map,” he said. “And it also will give the US an opportunity to show the young talent we have.”