Former Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Ibrahim Khaleel and former Windward Islands legspinning allrounder Camilus Alexander are all set to make their debuts for USA next month after being named in a 14-man squad for ICC WCL Division Three in Uganda.
Khaleel’s eligibility for Division Three was very uncertain as he did not meet the ICC’s four-year residency requirement for non-citizen players classified as nationals. He had moved to the US in 2013 but had spent too much time out of the country during his final season with Hyderabad in 2014-15. But the ‘green card’ holder of the USA finally received his USA citizenship and passport on April 14 which fully made him eligible for selection. On the other hand, Camilus Alexander moved to Atlanta from Grenada in 2012 and qualifies as a four-year resident.
Timil Patel, who recently became an US citizen, is also included in the squad.
Speaking on the addition of the new players in the squad, Ricardo Powell, USA national selection chairman, said:“We feel these players will boost the squad’s batting depth and also its flexibility, with additional spin bowling options.We wish the selected players and coaching staff all the best for their preparation and a successful event.”
Khaleel represented Hyderabad in 57 Ranji Trophy matches scoring 2158 runs at an average of just over 29 with the help of three centuries and 9 fifties in addition to affecting 211 dismissals. In 2007, he left Hyderabad Ranji Trophy side and joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which ruled him out of international selection, or participation in any cricket authorised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Later, when the BCCI brought back the ICL players in the mainstream, the wicketkeeper was brought by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League for a season but did not get to play any game.
In 2011, Ibrahim created a world record in wicketkeeping for any First-Class game with a tally of 14 victims in a Ranji Trophy Plate Group B match against Assam.
USA squad:
Steven Taylor (capt), Camilus Alexander, Timroy Allen, Alex Amsterdam, Fahad Babar, Akeem Dodson (wk), Elmore Hutchinson, Nosthush Kenjige, Ibrahim Khaleel (wk), Ali Khan, Mrunal Patel, Timil Patel, Jessy Singh, Nicholas Standford