‘Imported’ cricketers: Behind team United States’ success in T20 World Cup

Expat cricketers

What eventually guaranteed the US’ qualification was its head-to-head fixture with Pakistan, which came down to a super-over. Defending 18 runs, Saurabh Netravalkar successfully bowled the decisive over. Born in Mumbai, Netravalkar was once destined to wear the India blue, even representing India’s under-19 side in 2010, where he played alongside the likes of KL Rahul and Harshal Patel. Fate however took him to the US, where he is now a part-time cricketer and a full-time software engineer with Oracle.

Standing at mid-on, chatting with Netravalkar during the super over, was Corey Anderson, once a New Zealand batting phenom, most remembered for a blistering 37-ball century in a rain-curtailed ODI against the West Indies in 2014.

In fact, almost all of the United States’ team is made up of players who started their cricketing journey somewhere else. Captain Monak Patel represented Gujarat at the junior levels; all-rounder Harmeet Singh was once Netravalkar’s teammate in India’s under-19 and Mumbai sides; offie Milind Kumar was born in Delhi; fast bowler Ali Khan and batter Shayan Jahangir were born in Pakistan; batter Andries Gous and all-rounder Shadley van Schalkwyk were born in South Africa; and flamboyant six-hitter Aaron Jones was born in Barbados.

Switching nationalities

Countries are allowed to field players born overseas under specific rules in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) Players’ Handbook.

For someone like Netravalkar, with no prior international experience at the senior level, ICC’s residency rule applies. According to Section 3.1 of the Handbook (“Player Eligibility”), players must reside in their new country for at least three consecutive years before they can represent that country in international matches. The three-year stipulation ensures that the move is “genuine” not just a short-term arrangement for the player to play for another team.

In Anderson’s case, Section 3.2 of the Handbook is applicable. This states that players who have previously represented another country in official ICC senior-level matches (Tests, ODIs, or T20Is) must wait three years from their last international appearance before they can play for a new national team. This prevents opportunistic switches, for instance, a switch of nationalities after being dropped from the side.

For associate members of the ICC, comprising nations with weaker teams and less developed cricketing cultures, the rules are even more accommodating, with reduced residency requirements and fast-tracked eligibility. This allows countries like the US to attract quality and experienced talent, and grow the game on its shores.

These rules came up in the early 2000s, as cricket witnessed a global expansion and player movement shot up.

Not without detractors

That being said, rules allowing players to change their national alleigances are not without critics. Many argue that smaller nations may actually be exploited due to nationality switches, with players using them as a stepping stone to eventually play for a big team.

Take for instance Eoin Morgan, arguably the most talented cricketer to come out of Ireland, who eventually became the England captain and led the team to World Cup glory in 2019. Or Singapore-born big hitter Tim David, who dazzled briefly for the minnow before switching to Australia.

There are also concerns that experienced players from more established cricketing countries might overshadow local talent from coming up in emerging cricket countries. That being said, experienced pros playing for these countries also raises the standard of competition, provides mentorship for local talent, and improves the profile of the sport in the country.

As more and more countries pick up cricket, the ICC will have to continue to maintain a balance between keeping the sport’s integrity, and facilitating its growth.

(The author is an intern with The Indian Express)