Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya, now 34, is set for a fresh international chapter after being selected in the United States’ 15-man group for next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The left-hand batter and off-spinner played 30 white-ball matches for his birth nation between 2015 and 2020 before moving to the United States on a domestic contract.
He is one of two uncapped players in USA colours, the other being leg-spinning all-rounder Mohammad Mohsin. Mohsin, 29 and born in Peshawar, has yet to feature in any senior international cricket, though his numbers in Minor League Cricket have kept him on selectors’ radar. Pune-born middle-order batter Shubham Ranjane is also included; he owns four ODI caps for USA but awaits a T20I debut. Ranjane’s grandfather, the late India seamer Vasant Ranjane, played seven Tests in the 1950s and ’60s – a small piece of heritage the squad is quietly proud of.
Ten members of the 2024 campaign, when USA surprised many by reaching the Super Eights, retain their places. Wicketkeeper-captain Monank Patel again leads, with Andries Gous and left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar – USA’s top run-scorer and wicket-taker two years ago – central to their plans. Missing, though, is Aaron Jones, provisionally suspended under ICC and Cricket West Indies anti-corruption codes. USA Cricket has offered no further comment while the investigation continues.
Selection came with a wrinkle. USA Cricket remains under ICC suspension, so head coach Pubudu Dassanayake chaired a provisional panel overseen by a compliance officer from the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The governing muddle isn’t ideal, yet players and coaches insist the on-field focus hasn’t wavered.
Group A looks taxing: holders India, Pakistan, Namibia and Netherlands block USA’s path to the knock-out stage. The Americans open in Mumbai on 7 February against India, then revisit old friends Pakistan three days later in Colombo – a rematch of that memorable Dallas upset in 2024. Chennai hosts their final two fixtures, against Netherlands (13 February) and Namibia (15 February).
Fixtures, venues and opposition are familiar enough to Monank Patel’s men. “We know conditions in Chennai can suit our spinners, and most of our squad has played league cricket in India,” one team analyst noted during a media call. Whether that knowledge can outweigh the gap in top-level exposure remains to be seen, but USA’s blend of experience, passport diversity and quiet ambition will keep group rivals alert.
USA squad: Monank Patel (capt), Jasdeep Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.
