The USA will participate in the T20 World Cup for the first time, qualifying as a co-host with the West Indies. This marks a significant step for American cricket, which has a long but fluctuating history, including the first international match against Canada in 1844. Despite being an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 1965, the USA’s only prior major tournament appearance was the 2004 Champions Trophy.
In recent years, grassroots participation in cricket has increased in the USA. Local leagues have flourished, and new structures like Minor League Cricket and Major League Cricket have been established to strengthen the sport’s foundation. Although these developments have yet to significantly impact the national team, strategic use of qualification criteria has made the USA more competitive.
The national team, coached by Australian Stuart Law, is led by captain Monank Patel and vice-captain Aaron Jones. The team enters the tournament on a high note after a 2-1 T20I series win over Bangladesh. “We want to show everybody in the world that the USA can actually be a cricketing country and obviously be role models for the kids coming up,” Jones told AFP.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson brings World Cup experience to the squad, having moved to the USA in 2020 and qualifying under the ‘four-year rule’ in 2022. Other key players include pace bowler Ali Khan, left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, and Miami-born Steven Taylor, all of whom bring international experience.
The USA team will face India, Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada in the group stage. Jones, who has extensive experience playing outside the USA, is optimistic about the team’s potential. “We want to win games. We want to bring as much competition as any other team in the tournament,” he said.
The T20 format is known for its unpredictability, and Jones believes the USA can spring surprises. “We are a very good team. Obviously, we showed that against Bangladesh, one of the best teams in the world,” he said. “I wouldn’t call it an upset if we beat Pakistan or India. I will just say that we played better cricket on the day.”
