Former Pakistan opener Sami Aslam is one of the few overseas players who have shifted their base to US in the past year and the left-handed batsman is gearing up for the Major league. Ignored for a place in the Pakistan team last year, Sami moved to the US and signed up with Major League Cricket.
Sami has quit playing for Pakistan and he can now play for America once he fulfills the eligibility criteria. Sami is just 25 and can have a long career for the US cricket team.
Sami, who played 13 Tests and 4 ODIs before quitting Pakistan cricket, recently opened up on his move to the US and claimed that he has received calls from 100 of Pakistan’s first-class players who want to come there.
Further, the opening batsman also claimed that former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has also arrived in the US. Chand, who also captained India A for long, had led the junior team to the title victory in the 2012 World Cup. He has played IPL for Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.
Sami also claimed that Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh have also arrived in the US. Unmukt, Smit and Harmeet were teammates at the 2012 U-19 World Cup.
“30 or 40 foreign players have arrived in America recently. A few former Under-19 Indian players have also arrived, including Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel, and Harmeet Singh,” he told pakpassion.net.
“There are many players from South Africa over here now who have played a lot of First-class cricket in their homeland. Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson is also here. The set-up and system are very impressive and well structured. USA Cricket is really putting in a huge effort to improve cricket in America and to move it forward. It will take time for them to reach the higher levels, but the standard of cricket in America is improving fast.”
Unmukt was part of the Delhi squad in the 2020/21 domestic season while Smit now plays for Baroda. Harmeet represented Tripura in the 2019/20 domestic season.
It remains to be seen if any Indian player signs up with the Major League Cricket T20.
Saurabh Netravalkar, a former member of the Mumbai state team and India U-19 side, is the present captain of the US cricket team.
