USA vs. English Minor Counties: English Minor Counties won by 7 runs. English Minor Counties 319/9 ( J.B. Hewes 52, I. Dawood 51, G. Byram 40, L.H. Nurse 27, C. Javed 3/53, Z. Amin 2/52, R. Staples 2/50, Imran Awan 2/67). USA 312 all out, in 47.5 overs ( Steve Massiah 116, Nezam Hafeez 58, N. Islam 28, Mark Johnson 25, I. Awan 15*, D.J.P. Boden 3/72, A.Simmons 2/54, A. Proctor 2/57, D. R. Womble 2/67.)
And what was the reaction in Britain to this first-ever tour by the USA? The words written by Bill Edwards, Secretary of the Wales Minor Counties CC, who has represented Glamorgan on the TCCB for 14 years, and was the commentator at the famous county match where Sir Garfield Sobers hit Malcolm Nash for 6 sixes in one over, speak for themselves:
"... Few people look at America as a cricketing country, alas, but on the performances of these players, Baseball, American Football and Basketball may well have to look to their laurels! No, they did not set the world alight, but their whole performance as a touring party was quite something. Good performance, well disciplined off the field--a great advert for the US.
"What of the future? There obviously may be team changes, that is a natural progression in any sport, but the trio of the team administration must be given a chance to consolidate the entire cricket outlook. Mr. Kamran Khan is a 'real pearl of great price', Seu Shivnarine a coach and mentor with so much experience and has the knack of knowing the right approach to each player, and a Captain (Raymond Denny) leading the team from the front. Perhaps they will have their differences as they progress, but one warning--keep free from POLITICS with a capital 'P'--so frequently it divides a Club or Association--I speak from a few years of being involved, and it can be so worthwhile to avoid confrontation.
"A safe return, and I for one will watch with much interest, and you can rest assured that you will have left behind a worthwhile impression and Kamran Khan must feel very proud of all his effort for the benefit of others and America."
It has been announced that a USA team may be touring South Africa in February and March 2001. Details for this tour are not yet available.
The England tour was the first step taken by the 2001 Committee of the United States of America Cricket Association,, consisting of Chairman Kamran Khan, Vice Chair Selwyn Caesar, Seu Shivnarine, Jeff Miller and Neil Lashkari The Committee was appointed by the President of the USACA to prepare the USA National Cricket team for participation in the 2001 ICC Trophy competition in Canada.
The following 27 players listed alphabetically below, had been selected to represent the USA at the ICC Trophy in 2001:
Rohan Alexander (New York), Inshan Ali (New York), Zamin Amin (New York), Patrick Atkins (Washington D.C), Imran Awan (Washington D.C), Raymond Denny (Florida), Nirosh DeSilva (California), Nezam Hafeez (New York), Naseer Islam (Washington D.C), Nasir Javed (Florida), Mark Johnson (Florida), Adrian Jordan (Massachusetts), Ashar Khan (Texas), Ricky Kissom (New York), Winston Lewis (New York), Steve Mangru (New York), Steve Massiah (New York), Masood Mohammad (Florida), Mihir Patel (California), Charles Reid (Florida), Abbas Rizvi (California), Waqas Shahid (Delaware), Stephen Speak (California), Richard Staples (New York), Dave Wallace (New York), Mark Wright (Massachusetts).
The touring party for July in England was selected from this list of 27 players, following three days of trials held at Haverford College on May 27th, 28th and 29th. The USA team to tour England consisted of:
Raymond Denny, Captain; Richard Staples, Vice-Captain; Inshan Ali, Zamin Amin, Imran Awan, Nirosh DeSilva, Nezam Hafeez, Naseer Islam, Nasir Javed, Mark Johnson, Adrian Jordan, Steve Massiah, Masood Mohammad, Abbas Rizvi, Stephen Speak; Kamran Khan, Manager; and Seu Shivnarine, Coach.
The statement from acting USACA President and 2001 Committee Chairman Kamran Khan, made before this first-ever tour of a Test country by an official USA team had commenced, was indeed prophetic! Here it is:
" We are enormously encouraged by this extremely challenging schedule secured by hard work and cooperation between the committee and John Carr of ECB. The American team is certainly going to be under the spotlight and it is essential that we put up a good show and are a credit to our country.
" Our goals are beginning to be realized as we look forward to future projects, events and promotional activities. We are resolved to conduct an unimpeachable selection and preparation process which will bring credit to our association and America. We feel the wheels have at last begun to turn as we explore new avenues of development to ultimately expand all facets of American cricket. We are not only seeking out existing talent but are determined to put increasing emphasis into developing home grown cricketers and to uncovering alternate financing to generate new programs."
