India-born cricketer Unmukt Chand on Monday reacted to USA team’s direct qualification in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Chand, who moved to the United States of America for better opportunities to play cricket, took to his social media handle to share the news.
“Huge News!!! The ICC has today confirmed automatic qualification for #TeamUSA as co-host of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 alongside West Indies!!” USA Cricket wrote caption in a post on their official Instagram handle.
The decision from the ICC will see USA guaranteed to appear in what could be a first ever World Cup appearance, although both the USA Senior Men’s & Women’s sides have the chance to qualify for the respective next ICC T20 World Cups in 2022 and 2023.
Chand shared the Instagram post of USA Cricket on his story and tagged several handles related to the cricket in the country and the event. The 29-year-old also wrote: ‘2024 it is T20 WC with a common emoji of a bat and ball.’
In August 2021, Chand announced his retirement from Indian domestic cricket to salvage his dream of playing international cricket.
The 2012 U19 World Cup-winning captain never got an opportunity to represent in the senior men’s team despite playing 67 First-Class and 77 T20 matches for Delhi state team.
Just few months after moving to USA, Chand led Silicon Valley to a title triumph in the Minor League Cricket. He scored 59 off 43 balls against Golden State Grizzlies. The Delhi-born cricketer will be eligible to play for USA national team after completing his residency period of three years.
Apart from Unmukt, his former India U-19 WC-wining teammates Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh have also switched their base to USA and shall be eligible to play only when they complete their residency period.
Unmukt Chand became the first Indian-born player to play in the Big Bash League 2021-22 as he played a couple of games for Melbourne Renegades.