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As the Qualifiers for the 2027 ODI World Cup are about to get more intense, the USA National Cricket Team has recalled their experienced fast bowler Ali Khan to their ODI squad ahead of their qualifier matches.
The USA cricket team will play their final scheduled ODI assignment before the World Cup Qualifiers in Africa in February. The experienced pacer makes his return in the USA's 50-over setup after three years. The experienced pacer's previous ODI match in the format for the national team was during the previous edition of the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Ali Khan to make return in ODIs after three years
The team management has made a few changes before their crucial match. Apart from the inclusion of Ali Khan, fast bowler and former vice-captain Jasdeep Singh is also set to make his return to the team. Ali and Jasdeep have been named in the squad in place of Rushil Ugarkar and teenage fast bowler Ritvik Appidi.
The exclusion of Rushil Ugarkar was a bit surprising for call by the USA as the emerging pacer was in significant form for the team. Rushil Ugarkar claimed 12 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of under six. The 23-year-old presented one of his finest spells against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), taking 5 wickets in Dubai.
USA squad for the ODI qualifiers:
Smit Patel, Monank Patel (captain), Shehan Jayasuriya, Sai Teja Mukkamalla (vice-captain), Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Ehsan Adil, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shayan Jahangir, Yasir Mohammad, Ali Khan, Jasdeep Singh.
Ali Khan remains active in the T20 format
He has been away from the national team for a long time, but he keeps himself active in club cricket. The fast bowler played his last match in the Canada Super60 for the Mississauga Masters. He has so far played three matches in the league and is yet to take a wicket in the league.
Before taking part in Canada's franchise league, he was in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) with the Glasgow Cosmic. The 35-year-old was a regular wicket-taker for the Glasgow-based franchise team. On September 12 against the Guardians in the league, he took 4 wickets in his spell.
Ali Khan played well in his previous ODI match
Khan's last ODI match for the USA cricket team was back in Harare on July 6, 2023. In that match against the Zimbabwe national cricket team, he took a brace against 61 runs. So far in his ODI career for the USA cricket team, Ali Khan has bagged 33 wickets in 15 matches with a best bowling figure of 7/32 and an economy rate of 4.77.
With the additions of Khan and Jasdeep Singh, the USA cricket team has made their intention clear; they want to secure experience over the youngsters at least in the final stretch of the Qualifier round. While the other departments have both young and experienced talents, the bowling troops contain experienced pacers and spinners.
