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USA get surprise invitation to ICC World 20/20 Qualifiers
“20/20 is the perfect vehicle for cricket to excite the USA” – Lorgat
The ICC has thrown the USA an unexpected lifeline by inviting them to take part in the 2010 ICC World 20/20 Qualifier, scheduled for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October.
Lennox Cush
Steve Massiah
In addition to the six associate and affiliate teams with ODI status (Ireland, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Scotland) the UEA and the USA will participate.
“Twenty20 is the perfect vehicle for cricket to excite the USA,” said Haroon Lorgat, the ICC’s chief executive. “The tournament represents a wonderful opportunity for the USA to move towards a brighter future and exploit its potential after a period on the fringes following previous suspensions and demotions because of administrative issues,” explained Lorgat.
“The ICC has strategic plans to target and strengthen the game in potential growth markets and the USA, with its player base, development potential and cricket broadcast interest, now backed with a new professional administration set-up, has obvious potential in all these areas.”
Lorgat’s comments suggested that the decision owed little to cricketing credentials and almost everything to commercial and marketing opportunities. How that will sit with other associates remains to be seen. The last global event USA participated in was the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 in May 2008 when they lost to Jersey in the semi-finals.
The top two sides from the tournament will go forward to join the 10 ICC Full Members in next year’s main event, set to take place in the West Indies in April and May at three locations – Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia.
These decisions were made by the ICC Development Committee, which has been meeting this week in Dubai.
The USA team could once again be led by former Guyana youth player Steve Massiah and Stanford Superstars 20/20 all-rounder, Lennox Cush are among the Guyanese in the USA line-up, which should be coached by former Guyana and West Indies batsman Clayton Lambert. Guyana’s ex-West Indies Test spinner Neil McGarrell could also be in line for a pick on the USA 20/20 side.
Mahendra Nagamootoo
After several years of infighting, including two periods where the USA Cricket Association was actually suspended by the ICC, the team currently languishes in the lower regions of world cricket.
However, the ICC’s development committee decided to fast-track the team into the Qualifiers. This will be greeted with anger by the many countries above the USA in the global pecking order, not least Namibia, the associate on the periphery of joining the top six, who have been hit below the belt for the second time in as many days.
On Tuesday last, they were excluded from the top flight of the Intercontinental Cup after the ICC decided to restructure the competition, partially to accommodate Zimbabwe, and now they find that they have been leapfrogged by the USA.
Meanwhile, The ICC has advised cricket officials in America to install an IPL model to capitalise on the 20/20 boom and generate funds for the game’s grassroots development in the USA.
The ICC told the USACA to set up such a league “as fast as they can” and the 34-year-old Cush, now an American Citizen, has already signed a lucrative American Premier League (APL) contract. It is understood that 33-year-old former Guyana and West Indies leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo is the other Guyanese first-class player to sign on to the APL.
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