Thu Jan 15 08:50:00 UTC 2026: ### USA Under-19 Team Comprised Entirely of Indian-Origin Players Raises Eyebrows at ICC World Cup
The Story: The ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 kicked off on January 15 with a match between the USA Under-19 team and India Under-19. While India chose to bowl first after winning the toss, the composition of the USA team became the talking point. The entire playing eleven of the USA team consists of players of Indian origin, captained by 18-year-old Utkarsh Srivastava, born in Pune, Maharashtra. This has sparked discussions about the nature of cricket development in the United States and its reliance on immigrant communities.
Key Points:
- The USA Under-19 team facing India in the World Cup opener is entirely comprised of players of Indian origin.
- Utkarsh Srivastava, born in Pune, India, captains the USA team.
- The article highlights that the entire 15-member squad of the USA Under-19 team appears to be of Indian origin.
- Cricket in the USA is largely driven by the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, West Indian, and other Asian diaspora communities.
- The selection criteria allow players to represent a country if they were born there or have citizenship/residency qualifications.
Key Takeaways:
- The makeup of the USA Under-19 cricket team reflects the significant influence of the South Asian diaspora on the sport in the United States.
- While technically representing the USA, the team is culturally and cricket-wise more akin to an “Indian diaspora team.”
- The article points to the limited development of cricket at the school and college levels in the US, underscoring reliance on immigrant communities for talent.
- The success of the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024, including their win against Pakistan, with players like Saurabh Netravalkar, highlights the impact of these communities at the highest levels.
- The ICC’s eligibility rules enable teams like the USA to field players who may not have been born in the country but have established residency or citizenship.
First Piper 