The USA Cricket Association has named a squad of 15 players for the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa in January.
USA Women’s Under 19s will make history by becoming the first Women’s cricket team to represent the United States at a Cricket World Cup and the first of any kind since the Men’s Under 19s team in 2010.
The 15-player squad will be captained by Geetika Kodali, with head coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul. USA is facing a challenging Group A that features Australia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The squad is accompanied by five non-traveling reserves who will be on standby in case of any replacements are required.
“This World Cup is the realization of a dream for these young players who will get the honor of being the first female cricketers ever to represent the USA at any Cricket World Cup,” Nadia Gruny, USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, was quoted in the release.
“Our squad represents a new generation of American cricketers, and we’re most pleased to watch them display their brand of cricket as emerging stars establishing themselves on the World stage. Following series victories this summer against the West Indies U19s and the UAE U19s last month, our players have had some excellent preparation for South Africa. We want to congratulate all the girls, their parents, and the American cricket community for their continuous support as the squad prepares to face new challenges. “Congratulations to all of the players who have been chosen to represent Team USA.”
“After a very pleasing tour of Dubai, the Selection Panel has now settled on our final squad to focus on its final preparation for this historic World Cup. There were some difficult decisions to be made in picking the final 15 players, but this speaks volumes about the depth that we’ve established within the Women and Girls game in the United States over the past two years,” said Ritesh Kadu, Interim Chair of the Women’s National Selection Panel.
“We showed throughout the year the kind of cricket that we are capable of playing, and we are looking forward to everyone representing the country to the best of their abilities in South Africa.”
Shivanarine Chanderpaul, head coach of the USA Women’s and Women’s U19 teams and a 2022 ICC Hall of Fame inductee, is no stranger to World Cup play.
“Following a very gratifying trip of Dubai, the Selection Panel has now resolved on our final squad to focus on final preparations for this historic World Cup,” Chanderpaul said. “There were some painful choices to be made in picking the final 15 players, but this speaks volumes about the depth we’ve established inside the Women and Girls game in the United States over the past two years. We show the type of cricket we are capable of playing throughout the year, and we are excited for everyone to represent the country to the best of their abilities in South Africa.”
Expertise at the Women’s senior team level abounds among the youthful players, thanks to the women’s program’s dedication to the future during the last two years. Eleven members of the U19 team have played in 88 T20i matches, including 13 from Isani Vaghela, 12 from Captain Geetika Kodali and Vice Captain Anika Kolan, and 10 from Suhani Thadani. Thadani is also the USA’s all-time leader in T20i wickets with 10 at an average of 8.90.
Captain Geetika Kodali has the most experience in the group, having played two seasons of Fairbreak T20 and one season of CPL for the Trinbago Knight Riders. Kodali made news this summer when she became the first person to pick up a hat-trick in the new 6ixty format in England.
Team USA Women’s U19 Squad
- Geetika Kodali (Captain)
- Anika Kolan (WK) (Vice Captain)
- Aditi Chudasama
- Bhumika Bhadriraju
- Disha Dhingra
- Isani Vaghela
- Jivana Aras
- Laasya Mullapudi
- Pooja Ganesh (WK)
- Pooja Shah
- Ritu Singh
- Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni
- Snigdha Paul
- Suhani Thadani
- Taranum Chopra
- Reserves
- Chetnaa Prasad
- Kasturi Vedantham
- Lisa Ramjit
- Mitali Patwardhan
- Tya Gonsalves
- Head Coach: Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- Team Manager: John Aaron
- Team Analyst: Rohaan Gosala
- S&C/Assistant Coach: Burt Cockley