Asian ‘Stars’ in USA’s T20 Squad … & Ranjan Paranavithana

Ranjan Paranavithana introduces some of the Asian Men with Sri Lankan links who are in the present US Squad at the T20 ODI Competition straddling India and Sri Lanka

America is a country that produces extremely talented in many sports. That’s proved by their talents at any Olympic games. But recently Americans started to know what kind of sport cricket was. Cricket [was seen as a boring] and ununderstanding game because Americans like to watch games for an hour and a half.

Even though test cricket is sure to be a boring game for them, matches like twenty and twenty soon started becoming popular in America. Good cricket stadiums as well as league tournaments at its state level [were eventualy set up]. This is why Americans started learning about cricket which was a stranger sport two decades ago.

But still the Indian, West Indies and Pakistani originals who play more in American cricket. Sri Lankan players like Shehan Jayasuriya,  Amila Aponsu, Angelo Perera, Roy Silva also got to play in these leagues. Roy Silva represented the American team years ago. Now Shehan Jayasuriya is representing American World Cup.

Sajith Fernando, who lived in America, also worked as its junior selection committee member. Pubudu Dasanayake, a talented coach, also worked as the coach of American Play several years ago and is doing it again.

When Pubudu first became his coach, he wanted to give first level cricket experiences to several American players [with limited] experience. At the request of Pubudu, I was able to give a chance to several American players to play a leading lineup in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Jessy Singh, a man of Indian origin, sent from America in 2016; [while] Fahad Babar, of Pakistan origin, was also sent to Sri Lanka.

They were [provided with] accommodation in Moratuwa and then worked to hand them to Kalutara PCC which was a first-class team. Abhinandan Nissanka, who passed at the age of 18, also played in the same team.

Jesse and Barber didn’t play that well, but I scored a century playing with them. On the day they left Sri Lanka, these two told me that they will hit Sri Lanka some-day …. the way they bat. However, Jessy and Babar, who had first-class cricket experiences in Sri Lanka, represented America afterwards.

Babar is now playing in his league matches and Jessy will be the vice-captain of the American Players at this year’s World Cup. But he had to go back due to a shoulder injury that he got in-between the tournament.

This American team posed a challenge that nobody expected to the powerful Indian and Pakistan pills in both the matches they have ever participated. All [their] batsmen have the ability to hit the cricket out of the field at any time. Because it’s power hitting.

That’s how American cricket goes, Pubudu said it’s no surprise if they hit a big team in this tournament. He said before India reaches the match.

Shehan Jayasuriya is also a member of this American play. He’s been a batter since school days. Just like Pubudu Kiwi, they gave a strong challenge to the Indian team in that match.

That’s the way we use in the twenty/twenty match format and the difference in the American system.

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ADDENDUM: Profile of Shehan Jayasuriya

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