USA Come To Indianapolis With A Point To Prove
With the ICC Americas Division 1 Championships commencing in Indianapolis at Indianapolis World Sports Park, we take time to look closely at the home team, USA.
USA vice captain Steven Taylor.
The USA team comes into the tournament straight from the recent National Championships looking to prove a point to the rest of the Americas region. The team will be lead by Muhammad Ghous, a hand off spinner and middle order batsman, who will look to take the team to a top to finish in Indianapolis.
He will be supported by Steven Taylor, an explosive opening batsman and wicketkeeper. Taylor, a naturally talented cricket, is also able to bowl medium pace and off spin when call upon. Following this tournament, Taylor will be heading to trial for a contract on a Caribbean Premier League franchise, and hopes a good tournament here will further strengthen his chances.
Following Taylor in the batting line up is Fahad Babar, a stylish right handed batsman, who is also very capable behind the stumps. Babar will be looking to assert himself as one of the regions finest batsman, and will be of great assistance to skipper Ghous in the field.
USA have brought two all-rounders with them to Indianapolis, with Adil Bhatti and Mrunal Patel making the trip. Bhatti is a quality right handed batsman and right arm medium fast bowler, while Patel is a right handed batsman and left arm spinner. Both players will be relied upon heavily during the tournament.
Canada Looking To Assert Dominance
With the ICC Americas Division 1 Championship drawing closer, we take a look at the tournament favorites, Canada, as they look to make a mends for recent performances and assert their dominance over the Americas region.
Nitish Kumar of Canada.
The Canadian squad will be captained by Rizwan Cheema, who brings immense talent and a wealth of experience to the table. Cheema, a veteran of the team at 36, is an explosive top order batsman who has previously represented Canada at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, as well as a stint in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Cheema goes into the tournament full of confidence in his players “I am pleased with the squad we have for the tournament, it is a good mixture of youth and experience. We are confident if we play to our potential we will finish on top.”
Some of this youth comes in the way of Nitish Kumar, who turns 21 in May, and has recently been selected to trial for a place in the Caribbean Premier League in 2015. Having already represented Canada at a World Cup, Kumar comes into the tournament looking to establish himself as a premier batsman in associate cricket.
Joining Kumar for trials in the Caribbean Premier League is off-spinner Nikhil Dutta. Dutta has previously represented Canada at the U19 World Cup and is looking to press his case a genuine all-rounder with his handy middle order batting.
The Canadian bowling attack will be spearheaded by Cecil Pervez, who had a breakout series at the recent WCL 2 in Namibia. Pervez’s ability to swing the ball both ways troubled many top order batsmen during the tournament, a trend he’s looking to continue in Indianapolis.
Bermuda Excited For Challenge
With just two days remaining until the ICC Americas Division 1 Championship commences, Bermuda descends on Indianapolis in the hope of securing a prized top two position and a ticket to the 2015 ICC World T20 Qualifier, to be held in Ireland and Scotland.
The Bermuda team comes to Indianapolis off the back of a strong warm up tour to Jamaica. Coach Arnold Manders said the team was both excited and prepared for the challenge ahead, “Both the playing and management group are looking forward to the upcoming Americas Twenty20 Tournament in Indianapolis. We have had both a productive and informative pre-tournament trip to Jamaica that has certainly added value to our preparation for the upcoming event”.
One of those looking to make a statement at this tournament will be Christian Burgess. Fresh off an impressive World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Malaysia, Burgess is in arguably the most important phase of his young career. While all his focus will be on this upcoming tournament, Burgess will also trial with a Caribbean Premier League franchise in June with the hopes of securing a contract.
Delray Rawlins also comes into the tournament looking to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder. The left arm off spinner and middle order batsman recently signed a contract with the academy at Sussex County Cricket Club and will be eager for a strong all-round performance across the week
At the other end of the scale, OJ Pitcher, who debuted for Bermuda in 2001, will be looking to bring his wealth of experience to the middle order and will take on the role of Vice Captain for the tournament. A member of the 2007 World Cup Squad, Pitcher will also look to stem the flow of runs with his medium pace.
Former Bermuda U19 captain, Joshua Gilbert, returns to the squad looking to add some much needed bowling depth. The spinner is also athletic in the field and will set the standard for the rest of the squad.
Bermuda has made one late change to their lineup, with Jason Anderson replaced in the squad by Misheal Paynter.
Suriname Looking To Defy Odds In Indianapolis
In November 2014, Suriname surprised many when they won the ICC Americas Division 2 Championships in Fort Lauderdale. As a result, Suriname achieved promotion to the ICC Americas Division 1 Championships and is now looking to make a big impression in Indianapolis.
Troy Dudnauth of Suriname.
Suriname’s strong performance in Fort Lauderdale came off the back of an outstanding tournament by Sauid Drepaul. Drepaul, the tournament MVP, was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets at an average of 11, as well as finishing 4th in the leading run scorers. Suriname will rely heavily on Drepaul’s all-round abilities and he will be the benchmark for their performances throughout the tournament.
In addition to Drepaul, Suriname’s batting depth will come through the Captain, Mohindra Boodram. Boodram is an experience cricketer, who also bowls handy off-spin and is the backup wicket keeper. Expect this versatile cricketer to lead from the front.
Boodram’s deputy in Indianapolis is Arun Gokoel, who will lead the bowling attack with his right arm medium pace. A capable middle order batsman, Gokoel will be eager to bounce back after a lean tournament in Fort Lauderdale.
Article courtesy of ICC Americas.
