In a significant move, USA Cricket has overhauled its entire national selection committee ahead of the National T20, scheduled to commence on Thursday.
Ravi Timbawala, aged 34, will succeed his fellow Los Angeles resident Michael Voss.
Timbawala will be supported by Nasir Jamali, Ritesh Kadu, Barrington Bartley, and Sunny Sohal.
This decision follows former Sri Lankan international Shehan Jayasuriya’s letter to the board, alleging ‘inconsistencies’ in selection policies for the zonal squads.
The outgoing selection panel, including chairman Michael Voss, Niraj Patel, Amer Afzaluddin, Orlando Baker, and Clayton Lambert, has been replaced just three months before the launch of the T20 World Cup.
The previous committee faced criticism on social media for omitting players like Jayasuriya, former Pakistani international Sami Aslam, Cameron Gannon, Brody Couch, and Jahmar Hamilton from the zonal squads.
Timbawala’s appointment brings intrigue due to his age and his status as an active cricketer.
Though he last played for USA in 2017, he represented the SoCal Lashings in the 2023 Minor League T20 (MiLC).
Similarly, Jamali, aged 34, last represented the US in 2015 but has been active in the MiLC circuit, playing for the Dallas Mustangs in 2023.
However, Timbawala and his team face the challenge of selecting the final 15 players, which has been a subject of considerable debate within the US cricket community.
The inclusion of players like Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Unmukt Chand, and Andries Gous, alongside the neglect of American expats like Gannon and Hamilton by the previous selection committee, adds to the selection complexities for Timbawala.
With a lack of USA fixtures leading up to the World Cup, the new committee will rely heavily on the national T20 and past MiLC performances to form a potential pool of players for the World Cup squad.
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