Unmukt Chand, the former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain who relocated to the USA to pursue cricket, has been excluded from their T20 squad for the upcoming five-match series against Canada. Corey Anderson, a former New Zealand all-rounder who also moved to the USA hoping to secure a regular spot in the playing XI, has been selected for this series, enhancing his chances of making his T20 World Cup debut for the USA in June.
Selectors have overlooked Unmukt Chand
Despite his impressive performance across three seasons in the Minor League (MiLC), where he scored over 1500 runs in 45 matches and topped the run charts in the competition’s history, Unmukt Chand has been overlooked by selectors. He also made a mark at the National T20 competition and impressed in the three practice matches that followed, scoring 70 runs in the training camp to strengthen his case for selection in the 20-team tournament. Monank Patel will lead the side, with Aaron Jones as his deputy.
The USA squad for the upcoming series against Canada includes Monank Patel as captain, Aaron Jones as vice-captain, and players like Corey Anderson, Gajanand Singh, Jessy Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Nisarg Patel, Steven Taylor, Andries Gous, Harmeet Singh, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Nostush Kenjige, Milind Kumar, Nitish Kumar, and Usman Rafiq.
RCB batsman Milind Kumar has earned a spot in the squad for the Canada T20Is
Meanwhile, Corey Anderson, aged 33, is poised to make his international debut for the USA after relocating there in 2020. His outstanding performance in domestic T20 competitions, where he scored over 900 runs in 28 matches at a strike rate of over 146, earned him a place in the squad for the Canada series, solidifying his chances of participating in the prestigious tournament in the USA and the Caribbean.
On the flip side, spinner Harmeet Singh, another Indian cricketer who gained fame after his U-19 heroics in the 2012 edition, has been selected in the 15-man squad. He led the MiLC side Seattle Thunderbolts to victory in 2022. Harmeet was also the top domestic draft pick in Major League Cricket (MLC) and played for the Seattle Orcas.
Additionally, former Delhi and RCB batsman Milind Kumar has earned a spot in the squad for the Canada T20Is. Milind was one of the top run-scorers in the MiLC, scoring over 1100 runs in 35 matches. Meanwhile, former Canada captain Nitish Kumar will make his return to international cricket after moving in 2021.