With the ODI phase of the Namibia trip as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 2023/24–2027 cycle, star pacer Saurabh Netravalkar of the USA will be making his comeback to the international scene. Netravalkar’s parental responsibilities caused him to miss the USA’s most recent series against the Netherlands. The dates of the ODIs have not yet been announced, but the 33-year-old software engineer turned cricket player will try to add to his impressive record of wickets claimed. His only appearance in the league will be in the ODI portion; the management has given him permission to miss the T20I matches.
In the one match he played in for the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket 2024, Desai looked sharp, dismissing Marcus Stoinis as well as Devon Conway for a golden duck. Vice captain Aaron Jones, meanwhile, has chosen to play for St Lucia Kings in the ongoing CPL rather than participate on the Namibia tour. However, Andries Gous has chosen to commit to the international team, therefore he will soon make his debut in the 50-over format.
With Saurabh Netravalkar out of the picture, USA’s T20I squad now features intriguing left-arm seamer Ayan Desai.
Owing to an injury, former skipper Steven Taylor will not be participating in the tour. Taylor would have liked to break the rut on the Namibia tour after failing to score more than 30 in his previous nine ODIs, but it was not to be. With impressive innings in the ODI series against Canada, wicketkeeper-batter Smit Patel was called up for the first time for the T20I team.
Also Read: Exclusive: Missed four of six first-semester exams due to U19 World Cup, gave 10 later: Saurabh Netravalkar
Milind Kumar returned to the ODI and T20I squads following a distinctly lackluster MLC 2024 campaign with the Texas Super Kings, thanks to a handful of clutch knocks during the Netherlands tour. Monank Patel, the skipper, will try to lead from the front this time around after a hit-or-miss Netherlands tour.
USA’s squad for ODIs
Monank Patel (c), Andries Gous, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Juanoy Drysdale, Milind Kumar, Nosthusha Kenjige, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Smit Patel, Sushant Modani, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shayan Jahangir, Shadley Van Schakwyk, Utkarsh Srivastava, Yasir Mohammad.
USA’s squad for T20Is
Monank Patel (c), Andries Gous, Abhishek Paradkar, Ayan Desai, Harmeet Singh, Juanoy Drysdale, Milind Kumar, Nitish Kumar, Nosthusha Kenjige, Jasdeep Singh, Smit Patel, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shayan Jahangir, Utkarsh Srivastava, Yasir Mohammad.