Five USA Players To Watch Out For At ICC T20 World Cup 2024 – Crictoday

Crictoday
Cricket Today

The USA cricket team is poised to make an exhilarating entry as one of the most exciting associate members at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The impending cricketing carnival marks a historic moment for the USA, as it will be only their second major international big-stage appearance and their first in two decades since the 2004 Champions Trophy in England.
Adding to the excitement, the USA is also one of the co-hosts of the prestigious event and will be aiming to defend their honor in front of their newfound and rising fanbase. The team is set to enter the T20 World Cup 2024 with high spirits, having recently achieved a landmark victory by defeating Bangladesh in T20Is, marking their first series win over a full-member nation. With the significant achievement coming just days prior to the launch of the T20 World Cup, the occasion will certainly boost the confidence of several of their players.
It's almost time to defend our home turf in the @T20WorldCup! Here is our 15-player squad that will be representing the United States in the World Cup beginning on June 1!#WeAreUSACricket #T20WorldCup #TeamUSA #Cricket pic.twitter.com/phnzT2Ce48
In light of the USA’s sudden rise as a potential associate T20 powerhouse, here are five of their key players to watch out for at the 2024 T20 World Cup this June.
1. Monank Patel
India-born Monank Patel was appointed as the USA’s captain in mid-2024, not long before the launch of the T20 World Cup 2024. In his brief stint as captain, Patel has already led the USA cricket team to emphatic series wins over Canada and a strong Bangladeshi unit.
After scoring successive half-centuries against Canada in winning causes, the 31-year-old also punched out a match-winning 42 to set USA’s thrilling six-run win against the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and others at the Prairie View Complex in Texas.
Overall, Monank Patel’s international career factfile features 25 T20Is and 47 additional ODI matches, all for the USA since his debut in early 2019.
The cricketer has also encountered numerous international bowlers through his presence in prominent T20 leagues like ILT20 and MLC. All in all, Monank Patel’s form with the bat and as a leader serves as one of the biggest USA factors to watch out for at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
2. Corey Anderson
Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson migrated from Auckland to Dallas in 2020 and subsequently participated in the USA’s MLC competition. The dynamic all-rounder, who once held the record for ODI cricket’s fastest century, became eligible to represent the USA in international cricket in 2023 and made his debut in March 2024 in a series against Canada.
Anderson’s hard-hitting abilities helped the USA overcome Canada and Bangladesh within a month, thus helping them gain some much-needed momentum toward the 2024 T20 World Cup at home.
The 33-year-old has played 167 T20 matches so far, including 36 internationals, many of them in highly competitive leagues like the IPL, CPL, PSL, Australian Big Bash, and USA’s very own MLC.
Having scored over 3,000 runs at a strike rate of nearly 135, Corey Anderson has conquered some of the best bowling attacks on his day and is capable of taking USA cricket forward in their maiden T20 World Cup appearance for his adopted nation.
3. Harmeet Singh
Harmeet Singh, one of the members of India’s victorious 2012 Under-19 World Cup winning squad, played domestic cricket for Mumbai and Tripura before shifting to Seattle in 2021 for USA’s Minor League matches.
Harmeet eventually earned his maiden international cap in March 2024 for a pre-T20 World Cup series against Canada. In his first match against a Test-playing nation, the all-rounder blasted a sizzling 13-ball 33* against Bangladesh to help the USA seal a remarkable five-wicket win.
The outcome also set the tone for the USA’s historic series win over the Asian powerhouse, which occurred mere days before the launch of the T20 World Cup.
Apart from his hard-hitting abilities, Harmeet Singh is a handy left-arm spin operator, especially during the middle overs of an innings. His recent form as an all-rounder makes him one of the few USA players to watch out for in June’s 20-team global event.
4. Steven Taylor
Steven Taylor is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters the USA has ever produced. While the left-hander made his international debut in 2019, he has been an active member of the USA’s cricketing fraternity since 2012.
Taylor averages a staggering 41.22 in T20 internationals, all while striking at 142.41 at the top of the order. The 30-year-old recently punched out series-defining knocks against an experienced Bangladesh side in Prairie View and also delivered timely breakthroughs via his crafty off-breaks.
Moreover, Steven Taylor’s inclusion in the USA squad also gives his captain, Monank Patel, an additional wicketkeeping option in case of a player injury at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
5. Ali Khan
Pakistan-born Ali Khan gained widespread attention in USA’s cricketing circles through his sheer pace and accuracy. The 33-year-old brings the most expansive experience to the USA’s bowling table, having played in prominent global T20 leagues like PSL, IPL, MLC, BPL, CPL, and Canada’s Global T20.
Overall, Khan has collected 73 wickets in 68 T20 appearances and has maintained an economy rate of nearly eight-and-a-half in modern-day high-scoring setup. Quite recently, he bowled the USA to an emphatic six-run victory over the visiting Bangladesh side by picking up impressive match-winning figures of 3-25.
Ali Khan’s experience, recent form, and fast bowling pedigree easily make him one of the stars to watch out for at the T20 World Cup 2024 from the USA camp.