By The USA and their northern neighbors, Canada, are set to kick off the inaugural match of the World Cup, marking the first time the tournament will be partly hosted in North America. The match will take place at a former baseball stadium outside of Dallas on June 1. Both teams are making their debut in a T20 World Cup, with Canada having some experience on the big stage in the 50-over format. However, they face a tough challenge in Group A, which includes heavyweights India and Pakistan, along with Ireland, who have caused upsets in the past. This group is the only one to be played entirely in the USA.
United States of America
The USA has long been seen as a sleeping giant in Associates cricket, with a large base of active cricketers but hampered by administrative issues. Despite these challenges, the team has been showing signs of improvement, gaining ODI status in 2019 and recording their first win over a Full Member, Ireland, in a T20I. The success of Major League Cricket has also drawn international stars to the country. The team’s recent 2-1 victory over Bangladesh in a preparatory T20I series indicates that they are in good form leading up to the World Cup.
Key players for the USA include Steven Taylor, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Ali Khan, with newcomers like Andries Gous, Shadley van Schalkwyk, and Corey Anderson adding strength to the squad. The team has faced controversy over selection issues, but on the field, they appear to be a cohesive unit.
Canada
Canada, historically the stronger of the two North American sides, has recently struggled against the USA. Despite this, they have shown promise under coach Pubudu Dassanayake, reclaiming their ODI status and winning the Regional T20 Qualifier. However, a string of defeats to the USA and off-field controversies, including rumors of Dassanayake’s sacking, have marred their preparations.
Players like Kaleem Sana and Nicholas Kirton have been in good form, but the team will need to regroup quickly to perform well in the World Cup. Their opening match against the USA will be crucial, and they will also be targeting a win against Ireland. However, they face an uphill battle against India and Pakistan.
Overall, both the USA and Canada will be looking to make an impact in their first T20 World Cup appearance. While the USA has shown improvement and will be playing on home soil, Canada will need to overcome recent setbacks to perform well in the tournament.
USA Squad: Monank Patel (c), Shayan Jahangir, Andries Gous, Nitish Kumar, Steven Taylor, Harmeet Singh, Corey Anderson, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Milind Kumar, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Jessy Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Nosthush Kenjige
Canada Squad: Saad bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Ravinderpal Singh, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Nikhil Dutta, Pargat Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Dilpreet Bajwa, Dilon Heyliger, Junaid Siddiqui, Jeremy Gordon, Kaleem Sana, Rishiv Joshi. Coach: Pubudu Dassanayake
