Cricket

USA Cricket Parts Ways with Head Coach Stuart LawUSA Cricket has announced the departure of Stuart Law as the head coach of the men's national team. The decision, made in the midst of the team's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign, came as a surprise to many.Law's tenure, which began in April 2023, lasted just over seven months. During that time, the team achieved notable successes, including a T20I series victory over Bangladesh and a historic qualification for the Super-Eights stage of the T20 World Cup.However, despite these accomplishments, USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison stated that "it was not an easy decision to make." He added, "Unfortunately, we felt that a change was necessary for the next phase of competitive preparation."Venu Pisike, Chair of USA Cricket, expressed gratitude for Law's contributions. "We thank Stuart for his contributions to USA Cricket during his tenure. We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors."The departure of Law leaves a void in the USA Cricket coaching staff. The team is currently second in the Cricket World Cup League 2 points table, with six wins in nine games. They are aiming to qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup.USA Cricket has not yet announced a replacement for Law. The team's next match is scheduled for February 26 against Nepal in Dallas.

Bangladesh and the United States will engage in a three-match T20I series from May 21, providing both teams with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This series marks the first time these two nations will face off in a T20I encounter.Tuning Up for the T20 World CupThe series will serve as a valuable warm-up for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Grand Prairie on June 7, while the USA will play their first two matches in the same venue against Canada and Pakistan.Bangladesh Batting in FocusBangladesh's batting performance against Zimbabwe earlier this month raised concerns, with Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto blaming the pitches in Chattogram and Dhaka. The team's highest score while batting first was 165, and they will be eager to improve their batting in Texas.Stuart Law's ImpactStuart Law, the former Bangladesh head coach, will be in the opposing camp as the USA head coach. Law's experience and knowledge of Bangladesh's players could prove valuable for the USA.Catching ConcernsBangladesh will also be looking to address their catching issues. They have dropped eight out of 42 chances in bilateral series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe this year. Improving their catching will be crucial for their success in the T20 World Cup.A Familiar FoeAlthough Bangladesh will face the USA for the first time in international cricket, they are familiar with Corey Anderson, who made his USA debut last month. Anderson's destructive batting against Bangladesh in 2015 will be a concern for the Tigers.

Stuart Law, the former Australian batsman, has been appointed as the new head coach of the USA men's cricket team. Law's first assignment will be the three-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, which the USA will co-host with the West Indies.Law expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, "It is an exciting opportunity to join USA cricket at this time. USA is one of the strongest Associate nations in the sport, and I believe that we can mold a formidable squad going ahead." He added, "The first task will be to prepare the team for the series against Bangladesh and then set our sights on our home World Cup, which will be huge."USA Cricket chairman Venu Pisike praised Law's experience and accomplishments, saying, "Stuart is one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport. He brings a lot of experience to USA Cricket with his varied assignments, particularly in developing international sides over the years." Pisike continued, "His appointment will only help the team grow to their full potential. We are excited to have Stuart on board just before the World Cup and look forward to lots of successes together."Law has a wealth of coaching experience, having previously served as head coach for Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan on an interim basis. He has also coached the Bangladesh Under-19s and led Bangladesh to their first Asia Cup final in 2012. In Australia, Law has held various roles, including batting coach to the national team, a position with CA's Centre of Excellence, and coaching the Under-19 team.USA will face Bangladesh in three T20I matches at Prairie View, where they recently defeated Canada 4-0 in a T20I series. Law's appointment is expected to bolster the USA team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup and help them achieve their full potential.