USA Cricket have dismissed head coach Stuart Law on Friday.
The termination comes in spite of USA Men’s unprecedented success under Law, including USA’s historic win over Pakistan in the ICC 2024 T20 World Cup in Texas. After World Cup victories over Pakistan and Canada and splitting points with Ireland in a washout in Florida, USA advanced to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, an accomplishment which importantly secured USA Cricket a spot in the next Men’s T20 World Cup.
Law has also steered USA Men’s ODI squad into the second position out of eight in the current cycle of the Cricket World Cup League Two ODI table at six wins and three losses, four points behind Canada who have played three games more than the Americans. Prior to Law signing a three-year contract with USA Cricket in late spring, USA finished fifth out of seven in the 2022 CWCL2 cycle with 16 wins, 17 losses, two ties and one no result.
Tensions have mounted in recent weeks as Emerging Cricket sources have claimed conflict between selectors and the head coach. USA Captain and wicket-keeper Monank Patel, who has scored just 11 runs in his previous five international innings while occupying one of the most abundantly deep roles in American cricket, has also reportedly butted heads with the USA coach since the captain refused to leave the squad during the World Cup for a replacement player after being ruled out of the remainder of the innings with an injury.
Emerging Cricket understands that roughly seven USA Men’s squad members of South Asian origin have accused Stuart Law of favoring other ethnicities over South Asians. Stuart Law was hired by a board that was composed almost exclusively of directors who were born in India. USA Cricket, via their selection policies, have gone to lengths to exclude eligible cricketers who play their domestic cricket in robust systems in Australia, England and in Caribbean Nations from selection. As a result, Sheffield Shield standout and 2023 Major League Cricket Bart King Trophy winner Cameron Gannon; as well as Surrey leg break all rounder Cameron Steel, who led the County Championship in wickets at the time of USA selection for the World Cup squad, have found themselves on the outside of the team without consideration.
It has also been reported to Emerging Cricket that attempts to ensure that USA Cricketers speak the common tongue of English on the field of play have been dismissed by captain Monank Patel and others. Several India-origin players continue to communicate in their native tongue during action on the field and off the field during team functions. A requirement to speak English inside of the team was also implemented during the term of Sri Lanka born head coach Pubudu Dassanayake as far back as 2018.
USA Cricket have yet to comment on the nature of Law’s dismissal, though Stuart Law is mere months into a three year agreement signed in April of this year. Since being recognized as an Associate member by the ICC in 2019 after the failed USA Cricket Association was disbanded in 2017, USA Cricket have had had a difficult time retaining leadership on and off the field of play. After Iain Higgins’ resignation in December of 2021, USA have had four CEOs and three different head coaches.
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