USA Cricket Drops Steven Taylor For Nepal T20I Series: A Shocking Decision That Has Fans Talking

The USA Cricket team has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against Nepal, with some notable omissions, particularly the absence of former captain Steven Taylor.

Taylor, who has been struggling with form and injury, has been dropped from the squad. His exclusion has come as a surprise to many fans, given his experience and past performances.

Taylor's Recent Struggles

Taylor's form has been declining in recent times, with a string of low scores in both the World Cup and the 50-over series in the Netherlands. His performance in the T20I series in the Netherlands was particularly disappointing, with him being rested after picking up an injury.

Although he showed some signs of recovery during the Namibia tour, with twin hundreds in the Minor League T20, these performances were overlooked. Cricbuzz reports that Taylor was still 'recuperating' from his injuries before the Namibia tour, which could be the reason for his absence from the touring party.

Other Notable Absences

Alongside Taylor, another notable absentee from the squad is Nitish Kumar, who has been struggling with form since the World Cup. The former Canada captain, who switched sides in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, found his form waning after an impressive innings of 27 against India.

Smit Patel, who is a rising star in American cricket, is also missing from the squad due to a groin injury that will keep him out of action for six weeks.

Ali Khan Returns to the Fold

However, the squad is bolstered by the return of talismanic fast bowler Ali Khan. The 33-year-old is set to play for the USA for the first time since the World Cup, after opting to skip the Netherlands tour and then missing a CPL season due to a leg injury.

Aaron Jones, who has been playing in the CPL, is also back in the mix. It is understood that Jones would have been left out of the Nepal series if not for his heroic innings in the CPL final, which grabbed the attention of the cricketing world.

The USA's Hopes For the Series

With a strong squad led by Monank Patel, USA will be looking to put on a strong performance in the T20I series against Nepal. The team has been in good form recently, having won three out of their last five games. They will be looking to build on their recent success, particularly their impressive performance against Pakistan in the World Cup.

The series will be a good opportunity for the USA to gain some valuable experience and build momentum ahead of future tournaments. The team will be hoping to secure a comfortable victory against Nepal, who are currently ranked 18th in the ICC Men's T20I rankings, one spot below the USA.

Nepal's Outlook

Nepal will be looking to cause an upset in the series and build confidence for their upcoming matches. They are currently in a transitional phase, having not had a strong T20 World Cup. They are hoping to bounce back from their recent struggles and make a statement in the series against the USA.

The team is led by Rohit Kumar Paudel and boasts a strong squad that includes big names like Sandeep Lamichchane, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Kushal Malla. They will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses in the USA squad and play a counterattacking style of cricket to challenge their opponents.

A Series to Watch

The T20I series between the USA and Nepal promises to be an exciting contest. Both teams have the potential to win, and the series could be a close affair. The series will be a chance for both teams to showcase their skills and build momentum ahead of the future T20 World Cup qualifiers. The series is a must-watch for fans of cricket in the United States and Nepal.