56 American Cricketers Who Left Their Countries and Moved to Play Cricket in the USA: List of USA Cricketers Who Were Born in Other Nations
With the Major League Cricket beginning this year, we look at all the cricketers who left their countries and moved to play cricket in the USA.
The United States of America is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cricketers looking to pursue a career in the sport. Over the years, many international players from around the world have left their home countries and moved to the US in search of greater opportunities. From West Indies to South Africa, here are 53 cricketers who have left their countries and moved to play cricket in the USA.
Key Takeaways
- At least 56 cricketers have left their home countries to pursue cricket in the USA.
- This includes 15 West Indian cricketers, 12 South Africans, 11 Indians, 3 Sri Lankan, 3 Australian, 2 Pakistani, 2 from New Zealand, 2 from Nepal, and 5 from other nations (England, UAE, Canada, Afghanistan, Bangladesh)
- 11 of these players have played international cricket, at least 11-15 others have played at an U-19 level in their home countries, and a few others (Sunny Sohal, Siddharth Trivedi, Bipul Sharma, etc.) have even been picked up deals in the IPL.
- Other current WI international players like Rakheem Cornwall & Chandrapaul Hemraj are not officially included in this list. However, a few such WI players play in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and other local American clubs for extra practice in their off-season.
Credit: This list is largely inspired from the updated reports and tweets of American cricket journalist, Peter Della Penna. For example, see this tweet.
Which Cricketers Changed Their Nationality to play for the USA?
From the 2012 U-19 winning captain, Unmukt Chand to the 2019 Cricket World Cup winner, Liam Plunkett, here is the list of Top 24 players who left their countries to play cricket in the USA (extended list of 56 players and honorable mentions below)
*Note: Not all of these players are eligible to play for the USA national team at the moment. The residency process will take 3-4 years. Until that is achieved, the players will live here and play in the Minor/Major League Cricket.
1. Xavier Marshall (West Indies, 2005-2018)
- Teams: Jamaica, West Indies, West Indies U-19s
- Age When Left Home Country: 32
- Current Age: 36
- Minor League Team: New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers
- Claim to Fame: Broke Shahid Afridi’s record with 12 sixes in an innings when he scored 157*(118) vs Canada in 2008. West Indies Youth Cricketer of the Year (2005), played 7 Tests and numerous limited overs game for the West Indies
- Role: Right-Handed Opening Batter
Note: Xavier Marshall was cut from the USA contract list in 2020
Embed from Getty Images2. Sami Aslam (Pakistan, 2012-2020)
- Teams: Pakistan, Pakistan U-19s, Balochistan, Sindh, Lahore Eagles, National Bank of Pakistan
- Age When Left Home Country: 25
- Current Age: 27
- Claim to Fame: Played in 2012 & 2014 U-19 WCs, captaining Pakistan to the final in the latter. 2nd Highest U-19 ODI run-scorer. Promising start to Test career with 7 fifties and best of 91.
- Minor League Team: Golden State Grizzlies
- Role: Left-Handed Opening Batter
3. Unmukt Chand (India, 2010-2020)
- Teams: India U-19, India U-23, India A, Delhi, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Chattogram Challengers, Melbourne Renegades
- Age When Left Home Country: 26
- Current Age: 29
- Minor League Team: Silicon Valley Strikers
- Claim to Fame: 2012 U-19 Cricket World Cup Captain, courtesy his knock of 111* (130)
- Role: Right-Handed Top Order Batter
4. Saqlain Haider (UAE, 2014-2017)
- Teams: United Arab Emirates, Pakistan A
- Age When Left Home Country: 33
- Current Age: 35
- Claim to Fame: Played 5 ODIs and 6 T20Is for the UAE, including the 2015 ODI World Cup
- Minor League Team: Houston Hurricanes
- Role: Wicketkeeper/Left-Handed Batter
*Note, Saqlain Haider was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and played international cricket for the UAE. Now, he is in the USA.
Embed from Getty Images5. Corey Anderson (New Zealand, 2007-2018)
- Teams: New Zealand, New Zealand U-19, New Zealand A, Auckland, Canterbury, Northern Districts, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Somerset, Lahore Qalandars, Barbados Tridents
- Age When Left Home Country: 28
- Current Age: 32
- Claim to Fame: Fastest ODI century of all time in 36 balls, breaking Shahid Afridi’s record. Constant Member of the NZ squad from 2015-18. Key player for NZ in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Played one of the greatest IPL knocks of all-time, scoring 95*(44) as MI sneaked into the qualifiers by scoring 195 in 14.3 overs.
- Minor League Team: Irving Mustangs
- Role: Allrounder (Left-handed batter, Left arm medium pace)
6. Shehan Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, 2009-2020)
- Teams: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka U-19s, Sri Lanka U-23s, Sri Lanka Board President’s XI, Police Sports Club, Chittagong Kings, Galle Gladiators
- Age When Left Home Country: 29
- Current Age: 31
- Claim to Fame: Scored 96 in an ODI vs Pakistan in a rearguard effort to bring SL from 28/5 to 205/6. SL still lost the game, but good innings nevertheless.
- Minor League Team: Silicon Valley Strikers
- Role: Allrounder (Left-handed batter, Right arm off break)
7. Narsingh Deonarine (West Indies, 1999-2016)
- Teams: West Indies, West Indies U-19s, West Indies A, Guyana, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs
- Age When Left Home Country: 32
- Current Age: 37
- Claim To Fame: Leading scorer in the 2008-09 domestic tournament. Took Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test wicket. Played 18 Tests, 31 ODIs, and 8 T20Is for the West Indies.
- Minor League Team: Silicon Valley Strikers
- Role: Allrounder (Left Hand Bat, Right Arm off break)
8. Liam Plunkett (England, 2003-2019)
- Teams: England, England Lions, England U-19s, Durham, Surrey, Yorkshire, Delhi Daredevils, Welsh Fire, Karachi Kings, Sylhet Sixers, Melbourne Stars, Kandy Tuskers, Dolphins
- Age When Left Home Country: 35
- Current Age: 37
- Claim to Fame: 2019 Cricket World Cup winner (3 wickets in the final including Kane Williamson), key to England’s limited overs revival. 2008-09 County Champions with Durham. Played 13 Tests, 89 ODI, and 22 T20Is for England
- Minor League Team: The Philadelphians (Player/Coach)
- Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler (and lower order hitter)
Note, Plunkett traveled to the USA and has played club cricket in the USA earlier even when he was representing England since his wife is from the United States.
Also Read: Hitting Against the Spin Review
Embed from Getty Images9. Dane Piedt (South Africa, 2010-2020)
- Teams: South Africa, South Africa A, Western Province, Cape Cobras
- Age When Left Home Country: 30
- Current Age: 32
- Claim to Fame: Best bowling figures on debut by a South African spinner since Aubrey Faulkner
- Minor League Team: DC Hawks
- Role: Right Arm off break (mystery spin with carrom ball)
Also Read: 151 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s): From WG Grace to Pollard
Embed from Getty Images10. Juan ‘Rusty’ Theron (South Africa, 2005-2015)
- Teams: South Africa, South Africa A, Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Eastern Province, Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs
- Age When Left Home Country: 31
- Current Age: 37
- Claim to Fame: MTN Domestic Championship Cricketer of the Year (2008), Player of the Match for Kings XI Punjab in an IPL 2010 match. He was selected for the 2010 T20 World Cup
- Minor League Team: East Bay Blazers
- Role: Right Arm Fast-Medium
Fun Fact: After he retired from South African domestic circuit, he initially moved to Florida to pursue a “teaching degree at a local college.”
Embed from Getty Images11. Amila Aponso (Sri Lanka, 2013-2020)
- Teams: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka U-23s, SL U-19s, SL U-17s, SL U-15s, Colombo Kings, Ragama Cricket Club
- Age When Left Home Country: 28
- Current Age: 29
- Claim to Fame: 273 first-class wickets at an average of 23.43 with a best of 8/148 (innings) and 13/234 (match). Played 9 ODIs & 3 T20Is for Sri Lanka
- Minor League Team: Atlanta Fire
- Role: Left-Arm Orthodox
12. Assad Fudadin (West Indies, 2004-2020)
- Teams: West Indies, West Indies U-19s, West Indies A, Guyana, Guyana Amazon Warriors
- Age When Left Home Country: 35
- Current Age: 37
- Claim to Fame: Selected in the 2004 U-19 World Cup and was a key batter in West Indies’ run to the final. Played 3 Tests in 2012
- Minor League Team: New England Eagles
- Role: Left-Handed Batter
13. Smit Patel (India, 2012-2021)
- Teams: India U-19s, India U-23s, India Blue, Indian Board President’s XI, Baroda, Gujarat, Tripura, Goa, Barbados Royals
- Age When Left Home Country: 28
- Current Age: 29
- Claim to Fame: 2012 U-19 WC Final star, forming a 130-run partnership with Unmukt Chand and himself scoring 62*(84). Scored a total of 11 first-class centuries.
- Minor League Team: Manhattan Yorkers
- Role: Wicketkeeper, Right Hand Batter
*Note, Patel is a green card holder and has been in the USA on and off since 2010, when his family moved to Pennsylvania.
Embed from Getty Images14. Sunny Sohal (India, 2007-2014)
- Teams: India U-19s, India A, Punjab, Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Barbados Tridents, Winnipeg Hawks
- Age When Left Home Country: 27
- Current Age: 36
- Claim to Fame: Highest run-scorer for Punjab in the 2008-09 Ranji Season, player of the Match in an IPL match, India U-19 player in 2007-08 alongside Virat Kohli, Piyush Chawla, Ravindra Jadeja, etc.
- Minor League Team: DC Hawks
- Role: Right-Handed Batter
15. Siddharth Trivedi (India, 2002-2015)
- Teams: Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat, Saurashtra, India Red
- Age When Left Home Country: 38
- Current Age: 40
- Claim to Fame: When he left RR, he was Rajasthan Royals’ all-time highest wicket-taker with 65 wickets
- Minor League Team: St. Louis Americans
- Role: Right Arm Medium Fast
16. Bipul Sharma (India, 2025-2021)
- Teams: India A, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim
- Age When Left Home Country: 37
- Current Age: 39
- Claim to Fame: One of the keys to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s success in IPL 2016
- Minor League Team: DC Hawks
- Role: Left-arm Orthodox
17. Cameron Gannon (Australia, 2010-2022*)
- Teams: Western Australia, Queensland, Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades
- Age When Left Home Country: 30
- Current Age: 34
- Claim to Fame: Took 31 wickets in the 2012-13 Sheffeld Shield season
- Role: Right Arm Fast Bowler
*still has a contract with Western Australia. He played a few T20Is for the USA in 2019 but returned to Australia domestic cricket. He has since been recalled in USA training camps.
Embed from Getty Images18. Harmeet Singh (India, 2009-2020)
- Teams: India U-19, India B, Rest of India, West Zone, Mumbai, Tripura, Rajasthan Royals
- Age When Left Home Country: 28
- Current Age: 30
- Claim to Fame: Played in 2 U-19 World Cups, including the one with Unmukt Chand & Smit Patel
- Minor League Team: Seattle Thunderbolts
- Role: Left-arm Orthodox
19. Bhaskar Yadram (West Indies, 2017-2020)
- Teams: West Indies U-19, Guyana
- Age When Left Home Country: 27
- Current Age: 39
- Claim to Fame: Highest wicket-taker for the West Indies in the 2018 U-19 Cricket World Cup
- Minor League Team: Empire State Titans
- Role: Right arm medium/off break
20. Timil Patel (India, 2002-2009)
- Teams: India U-19s, West Zone, Rest of India, Gujarat, St. Lucia Stars
- Age When Left Home Country: 27
- Current Age: 39
- Claim to Fame: Was with the India U-19 group in 2002 alongside Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan
- Minor League Team: San Diego Surfer
- Role: Left-arm Orthodox
Note: Timil Patel is now a domestic player in the USA squad since he has achieved American citizenship
Embed from Getty Images21. Gajanand Singh (West Indies, 2008-2011)
- Teams: West Indies U-19s, Guyana, Guyana Amazon Warriors
- Age When Left Home Country: 33
- Current Age: 35
- Claim to Fame: Played in the 2006 U-19 World Cup for the West Indies
- Minor League Team: Manhattan Yorkers
- Role: Left-arm Bat
22. Basant Regmi (Nepal, 2012-2019)
- Teams: Nepal, Nepal U-19s, Nepal U-17s
- Age When Left Home Country: 35
- Current Age: 36
- Claim to Fame: Has played international cricket for Nepal
- Minor League Team: Hollywood Master Blasters
- Role: Left-arm orthodox
23. Hammad Azam (Pakistan, 2008-2021)
- Teams: Pakistan, Pakistan A, Pakistan U-23s, Pakistan U-19s, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans
- Age When Left Home Country: 29
- Current Age: 31
- Claim to Fame: Played 11 ODIs and 5 T20Is for Pakistan
- Minor League Team: Golden State Grizzlies
- Role: Right Arm Bat
24. Sheik Faoud Ahamul Fasiel Bacchus (West Indies, 1971-1986)
- Teams: West Indies, United States of America, Border, Guyana, Western Province
- Age When Left Home Country: 43
- Current Age: 69
- Claim to Fame: Scored 250 in Test cricket for West Indies. Played 19 Tests and multiple ODIs and later played international cricket or the USA.
- Minor League Team: Golden State Grizzlies
- Role: Right Arm Bat
Also Read:
- How Many Cricket Stadiums are there in the USA?
- USA Cricket—The Complete Guide to Cricket in America (Updated 2023)
- Avinash’s Cricket Journey in the USA: an Interview
- 42 South African Born Cricketers Who Play for Other Countries: Can You Guess Them All?
- 49 South African Cricketers Who Left Their Country for Kolpak Deals
Future USA Immigrant XI – American Cricketers Who Were Born in Other Countries
South African Born Cricketers Who Moved to the USA
- William Ludick – Houston Hurricanes
- South African born who played domestic cricket with Central Districts in NZ prior to his US move
- Justin Dill – New Jersey Stallions
- Part of the 2014 U-19 South Africa squad
- Carmi Le Roux – The Philadelphians
- David Bunn – East Bay Blazers
- Selected for a South Africa U-19 tour in 2011
- Cody Chetty – Hollywood Master Blasters
- Corne Dry – Atlanta Fire
- Jacobus ‘Obus’ Pienaar – St. Louis Americans
- David White – East Bay Blazers
- Shadley van Schalwyk – Seattle Thunderbolts
- Slade-Lee van Staden – Houston Hurricanes
West Indies Cricketers Who Left the Caribbean to Play Cricket in the USA
- Timroy Allen (Jamaica) – Orlando Galaxy
- Mark Parchment (Jamaica) – Atlanta Param Veers
- Dean Morgan (Jamaica) – Ft. Lauderdale Lions
- Akshay Homraj (Guyana) – New England Eagles
- Damian Jacobs (Guyana)
- Trevon Griffith (Jamaica) – Empire State Titans
- Played in the 2010 U-19 WC
- Vikash Mohan (Trinidad)
- William Perkins (Trinidad)
- Mario Rampersaud (Barbados) – East Bay Blazers
Australian Born Cricketers Who Moved to the USA
- Cameron Stevenson (holds a US passport, but was born in and resides in Australia)
- Josh Dascombe – East Bay Blazers
Indian Born Cricketers Who Moved to the USA
- Saurabh Netravalkar (Silicon Valley Strikers)
- Sushil Nadkarni
- Played for India U-19 and Sikkim but immigrated to the USA in early 2000s to study engineering.
- Karan Viradiya – Hollywood Master Blasters
- Was initially selected for India U-19 in 2013 but was removed due to age alteration.
- Nisarg Patel – Hollywood Master Blasters
Players from Other Countries Who Play Cricket in the USA
- Shaker Ahmed (Bangladesh) – Michigan Cricket Stars
- Was in the 2010 U-19 WC squad. Moved to the USA in 2014
- Nitish Kumar (Canada) – Austin Athletics
- Kanishka Chaugai (Nepal) – Hollywood Master Blasters
- Shayan Jahangir (Pakistan) – Austin Athletics
- Marty Kain (New Zealand) – San Diego Surfriders
- Gayan Fernando (Sri Lanka) – SoCal Lashings
- Zakiullah Sultani (Afghanistan) – Michigan Cricket Stars
Honorable Mentions
Cricketers Born in the USA But Played Domestic Cricket Abroad
- Ian Holland – born in Wisconsin but played for Hampshire in England and for Victoria in Australia
- Cameron Steel – born in California but played for Hampshire in England
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi (East Bay Blazers) – born in Oregon, but played for Karnataka U-16s in India
- Aaron Jones (New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers) – born in Queens, New York but played List A and domestic cricket for Barbados
West Indies International Players who Play in the MiLC
- Although Chandrapaul Hemraj (New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers) played in Minor League Cricket (and hit lots of sixes), he still eyes a West Indies recall and is using MiLC as off-season practice
- Similarly, Rakheem Cornwall plays for the Atlanta Fire
- Hayden Walsh Jr. was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and played for the US national team between 2018-19. However, he switched his cricket allegiance to the West Indies after 2019.
- Now 40, Fidel Edwards plays for the Silicon Valley Strikers after a long (on & off) West Indies international & illustrious County career.
Final Thoughts – Why Are Cricketers Leaving Their Countries to Play Cricket in the USA?
Competition and financial security are two of the biggest reasons why cricketers are choosing to leave their home countries to play cricket in the USA.
Several of these cricketers played up till the U-19 and domestic levels. However, they could not make the cut to the international level. This has an impact on both personal desires and direct monetary value. Since USA cricket has been offering decent contracts to cricketers, and national boards of West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand continue to struggle, we may continue to see the exodus of cricketers from those nations.
Will this help USA cricket qualify for world tournaments and establish Major League Cricket in this crowded T20 calendar?
Only time will tell.
Also Read:
- Salary of Cricketers (Men’s) from Each of the 12 Nations (2022)—The Complete Guide
- Top 12 Richest Cricket Boards (RANKED 2023): Which Cricket Board Has the Highest Net Worth—BCCI, CA, ECB, CSA, or PCB?
- How Much Do Different Types of Cricketers Earn Per Year (2022)?
- Top 10 Richest Cricket Leagues (By Average Salaries). Which Cricket League Pays the Most (2022)—SA20, IPL, BBL, PSL, UAE IL, CPL, T10s, or the Hundred?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At least 53 cricketers have left their home countries to pursue in the USA, including 11 former international cricketers. This includes 14 West Indian cricketers, 12 South Africans, 11 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans, 3 Australians, 2 Pakistanis, 2 from New Zealand, and 6 from other nations (England, UAE, Canda, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh).
Sami Aslam and Shayan Jahangir are the Pakistani cricketers who moved to the USA.
Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel, Sunny Sohal, Siddharth Trivedi, Harmeet Singh, and Bipul Sharma are six of the most prominent Indian cricketers who moved to the USA.
Xavier Marshall, Gajanand Singh, Timil Patel, and a few other cricketers have changed their nationalities to play cricket in the USA. Others like Eoin Morgan, Ed Joyce, Boyd Rankin (Ireland to England) and Kepler Wessels (South Africa to Australia) are other examples of cricketers changing their nationalities and playing for two nations.
© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC, 2023. Originally published on 02/04/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).
