USA selectors decided not to include former Sri Lanka batter Shehan Jayasuriya and ex-Pakistan opening batter Sami Aslam in the West Zone squad for the National T20 Championship. This move might hinder their chances of playing in the World Cup, as selection for the NTC is seen as the primary factor, despite the existence of Major League Cricket and the three-season-old Minor League Cricket.
Jayasuriya and Aslam Snubbed from the Squad:
Jayasuriya, who has played in 30 international matches for Sri Lanka, finds himself excluded despite his impressive performances in the recent Minor League Cricket (MiLC) seasons. The 32-year-old has been in top form, scoring nearly 700 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 147 in the middle order, even on pitches not typically suited for T20 batting.Â
With almost 1500 runs in 48 games, he stands out as the most successful middle-order batsman in the league. In his Major League Cricket (MLC) stint last year, he notably scored an unbeaten 60 runs off 45 balls against LAKR and finished the tournament with an average of 36.
Jayasuriya’s consistent performances should have been a strong case for his inclusion in the squad, but the selectors have overlooked his contributions. Despite his impressive track record and recent successes, he finds himself on the sidelines, missing out on the opportunity to represent his team in the National T20 Championship (NTC).
Sami Aslam is in a tricky situation despite scoring a lot of runs in the Minor League Cricket (MiLC) over the last three seasons. Playing for the Golden State Grizzlies, he accumulated over 1000 runs in 42 games, maintaining an average of 35 for the initial two seasons before experiencing a dip in form in the 2023 season.
Probable Reason for the Snub:
The exclusion of Jayasuriya and Aslam appears to lack cricketing rationale, with no apparent cricketing metrics justifying their absence from the squad. Jayasuriya reportedly failed a yo-yo test, a measure considered ‘unimpeachable’ by the selectors. On the other hand, Aslam was not selected after missing indoor trials. It’s worth noting that Aslam had communicated to the board about his travel plans, as the trials were scheduled shortly after his wedding.
In addition to Jayasuriya and Aslam, David White, a former South Africa A opening batter with 85 first-class caps, was also overlooked for the West Zone squad.The reasons behind the non-selection of these players seem unrelated to their cricketing abilities, raising questions about the criteria used by the selectors. Jayasuriya’s fitness test and Aslam’s absence from trials after notifying the board about prior commitments add a layer of complexity to their omission from the West Zone squad for the National T20 Championship.
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