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.

Milind Kumar's Unique Record: First Batter to End ODI Innings with 155India-born USA cricketer Milind Kumar has etched his name in the annals of ODI cricket history with a peculiar record. He became the first batter ever to finish an innings with a score of 155.During a match against UAE in the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two, Kumar smashed a remarkable 155 off 110 deliveries. This unique feat marks the first time in the 53-year history of ODI cricket that a player has ended an innings with exactly 155 runs.Despite numerous instances of batters scoring between 150 and 159 in ODI innings, Kumar's knock stands out as the only one to conclude at precisely 155. This achievement highlights his exceptional batting prowess.Kumar, a seasoned campaigner in first-class cricket, boasts an impressive average of nearly 50. He has played for Delhi and Sikkim in the Ranji Trophy, emerging as the highest run-scorer in the 2018-19 season. His IPL experience includes stints with the Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The 33-year-old batter played a pivotal role in USA's stunning performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they reached the Super 8s. His 155-run knock in the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two helped USA post a formidable total of 339/4, leading to a 136-run victory over UAE.USA currently occupies second place in the ICC CWC League Two table, ahead of established nations like Netherlands and Scotland. They trail league leaders Canada by just two points despite playing fewer games.With 14 teams vying for a spot in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, USA has an opportunity to qualify for the main stage. Kumar's unique record and consistent performances will undoubtedly be crucial to their aspirations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the performance of the United States men's cricket team during the ICC T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies earlier this year. Addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi said, "Some days back here, the T20 World Cup took place. The USA team played so well in that competition. That team had so many Indian people who are living here and their contributions were witnessed by the whole world."The USA hosted 16 matches during the T20 WC 2024, which was held from June 1 to June 29. Matches took place in New York's Nassau County Stadium, Texas's Grand Prairie Stadium, and Florida's Central Broward Park. The USA team performed admirably, finishing second in the Group Stages with two wins and a loss. They defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over and gave India a tough fight while defending a low total of 111 runs.In the Super Eights, the USA lost all three of their matches but gave a strong performance against finalists South Africa, losing by 18 runs while chasing 195. This was the USA's first World Cup appearance in either the 20 or 50-over formats.Several players who represented India at the U19 level had strong performances for the USA in the tournament. Saurabh Netravalkar took six wickets, including those of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan, and South African captain Aiden Markram. Harmeet Singh, an Indian U19 bowler who played for India in the 2012 U19 WC and domestic cricket for Mumbai, also played for the USA, taking four wickets and scoring 69 runs in four innings.USA captain Monank Patel scored a crucial half-century against Pakistan, helping his team reach 159/3. India won the tournament, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.PM Modi's praise for the USA cricket team highlights the growing popularity of cricket in the United States and the contributions of Indian-American players to the sport.

USA vs Canada: Tri-Series 2024, 5th T20I Live Streaming and Match DetailsThe United States and Canada will face off in the fifth T20I match of the Tri-Series 2024, which also features the Netherlands. This highly anticipated clash will take place on Tuesday, August 27, at the Sportpark Duivesteijn in Voorburg, Netherlands.Match Preview:Canada enters this match with momentum on their side after securing an eight-run victory over the Netherlands in their previous encounter. The team will be looking to continue their winning streak and improve their position in the standings.On the other hand, the United States has faced setbacks in the series, losing both of their previous matches. They will be eager to turn things around and secure their first win.Match Details:* Date: Tuesday, August 27* Time: 5:30 PM IST* Venue: Sportpark Duivesteijn, Voorburg* Live Streaming: FanCode app and website (India)Key Players to Watch:* USA: Monank Patel, Sushant Modani, Nisarg Patel* Canada: Navneet Dhaliwal, Hamza Tariq, Nikhil DuttaImportance of the Match:This match is crucial for both teams as they aim to improve their standings in the tri-series. A win for Canada would strengthen their position at the top of the table, while a victory for the United States would give them a much-needed boost in confidence.Conclusion:The USA vs Canada Tri-Series 2024, 5th T20I match promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter. With both teams eager to secure a win, fans can expect a thrilling contest.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference concluded in Colombo on Monday, bringing forth significant decisions and updates.Review of T20 World Cup 2024The ICC Board has initiated a review of the delivery of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. A three-member committee comprising Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo, and Imran Khwaja will oversee the review and report back to the Board later this year.Non-Compliance Warnings for USA Cricket and Cricket ChileThe ICC has issued official warnings to USA Cricket and Cricket Chile, granting them a 12-month period to address their non-compliance with membership criteria. Both members have been found to lack adequate governance and administrative structures. The ICC Americas office will assist Cricket Chile in addressing the issues, while a Normalisation Committee will be established to monitor USA Cricket's compliance roadmap.Regional Qualifying Spots for T20 World Cup 2026The Chief Executives' Committee has confirmed the allocation of eight regional qualifying spots for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Two teams will qualify from Africa and Europe, one from the Americas, and three from a combined Asia and EAP regional final.Commitment to Gender EqualityThe ICC has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting equality between men's and women's cricket. As part of this strategy, the Women's T20 World Cup in 2030 will be expanded from 12 to 16 participating teams.Qualification Cut-Off Date for Women's T20 World Cup 2026The ICC has set the qualification cut-off date for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier as 31 October 2024. This aligns with the ICC's efforts to foster the growth and development of women's cricket globally.Appointment to Men's Cricket CommitteePaul Reiffel, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, has been appointed to the ICC Men's Cricket Committee.

Unmukt Chand, the former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain, has expressed his disappointment over being left out of the USA's squad for the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Chand, who retired from Indian cricket in 2021, shifted base to the USA in search of better cricketing opportunities. After playing in the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) and other franchise tournaments, he became eligible to represent the USA.Chand had openly expressed his desire to play against India in the T20 World Cup, but his hopes were dashed when he was not selected for the squad. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Chand revealed that he was shocked and devastated by the omission."That wasn't an ideal situation to be in. Because personally for me, this was what I had dreamed for the last three years. Obviously, it was a big shock. And it took me time to sort of come to terms with it. It's never easy as a player, having lost all those things back home in India, to having this one goal, which had kept me going for the last three years not happening. So it is difficult. I won't say which just happened. But it was difficult. I was not my best self for some time," Chand said.Chand admitted that he struggled to cope with the disappointment and went through a period of inner turmoil. "That was a very internal battle and it's a sucker basically. It keeps sucking you inside and inside. That feeling would linger on for a day and then go away and then come back again. The reality would hit me in different phases. Once you keep going through that automatically you keep getting better. There comes a time when you're like it didn't happen, that's it. I'm not even thinking about it," he added.Despite the setback, Chand remains determined to prove his worth. He started the second season of the MLC with a swashbuckling half-century for his franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR). Ironically, LAKR is owned by the Knight Riders group, the same franchise that Chand played for in the IPL when his career took a downturn after being clean bowled by Brett Lee in the opening ball of IPL 2013.Chand's omission from the USA's T20 World Cup squad has raised questions about the selection process and the opportunities available to Indian-origin players in the USA. However, Chand remains optimistic about his future and is focused on performing well for LAKR in the MLC.

Hilton Moreeng, the former South African women's cricket team head coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of the USA's senior and Under-19 women's teams. Moreeng's appointment comes after the departure of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose contract expired in 2023.Moreeng brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as South Africa's women's head coach for over 11 years. During his tenure, South Africa reached two ODI World Cup semi-finals, two T20 World Cup semi-finals, and became the first national senior side to reach a World Cup final, at home in the 2023 T20 World Cup."I am thrilled to join USA Cricket and eager to collaborate with both current players and emerging talent," said Moreeng. "My goal is to methodically build a competitive squad capable of rivaling the best in women's cricket globally. Together, we aim to foster a culture of excellence and achievement within USA Cricket, paving the way for a successful future on the international stage."Moreeng's appointment is seen as a significant step forward for USA Cricket, which is aiming to establish itself as a competitive force in women's cricket. The team has made significant progress in recent years, qualifying for the 2023 T20 World Cup and winning the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier."Coach Hilton brings a rich background and vast experience to USA Cricket having been a critical part of the transformation of South African women's cricket," said USA Cricket chairman, Venu Pisike. "USA women are also at the beginning of a transformative period with an Olympics in four years' time and we believe Hilton's successes, diverse experiences, and understanding of challenges in an emerging cricket nation is well suited for our program."Moreeng's first assignment will be to prepare the team for the 2025 U-19 Women's T20 World Cup. He will also oversee the development of the senior team, which is aiming to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The United States cricket team's remarkable journey at the T20 World Cup came to an end in the Super 8 stage, but the team's performance has left a lasting impression. Despite facing formidable opponents like South Africa, West Indies, and England, the USA held their own and gained valuable experience.Corey Anderson, a New Zealand-born batter who now represents the USA, expressed pride in his team's accomplishments. "We're signing off with our heads held high," he said. "We've learned a lot, and the sky's the limit for us."Anderson acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in player depth and consistency. "We're still an Associate nation, but we're growing and trying to expand our player pool," he said.The USA's success in the group stage, where they defeated Pakistan and gave India a run for their money, was a testament to their potential. However, in the Super 8s, the team faced a step up in competition."The bigger boys start to really show up and they're hitting their stride right at the back end of this competition," Anderson explained. "We don't get to play against these big teams often, so every opportunity is invaluable."Despite the setbacks, Anderson believes the team has made significant progress. "We're disappointed, but we're also proud of what we've achieved," he said. "We're starting to be disappointed about how we play against these big teams, and that's a great sign because it means we can give more."Anderson, who has played 93 games for New Zealand, acknowledged his own lackluster performance during the tournament. "I needed to play better than what I did," he said. "I missed out on opportunities that could have helped the team."The USA team is a diverse group of players with West Indian, Indian, and Pakistani origins. One of their standout performers was Indian-origin pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, who balances his cricket career with a full-time job as a software engineer.The team's performance at the T20 World Cup has raised the profile of cricket in the United States and inspired future generations of players. "Hopefully, in years to come, we can continue to grow the game in America," Anderson said.

USA Pacer Ali Khan: Pakistan Win Was No Fluke, We Planned to Beat ThemUSA pacer Ali Khan has asserted that their stunning victory over Pakistan in the group stage of the T20 World Cup was not a mere coincidence. The Pakistan-born Khan revealed that the USA team had specifically targeted Pakistan for a win due to their history.Khan explained that the USA team had gained immense confidence from their series win over Bangladesh prior to the World Cup. "That gave us a lot of confidence going forward," he said. "We knew we could easily beat Canada and Ireland. Then it was about picking one team between India and Pakistan that we could beat. We had confidence that we could beat Pakistan."The USA team executed their plan to perfection, dominating Pakistan from the outset. "We had planned accordingly and were all over them from the first ball," Khan said. "I think they had a good phase when Babar and Shadab were batting, other than that we dominated Pakistan."Khan acknowledged Pakistan's unpredictable nature, stating that they are capable of both brilliant and disastrous performances. "If you look at Pakistan's history, they will either destroy you or themselves," he said. "Thankfully, the latter happened. It was a lucky day for us and the win was important."The USA team finished second in Group A behind India, qualifying for the Super 8 stage. Khan's comments highlight the growing confidence and ambition of the USA cricket team, which is aiming to make a mark on the international stage.