USA Cricket has announced Men’s Senior and Youth Zonal Trials in Boston, Los Angeles and Tampa, set for this month ahead of the National Championships scheduled for early April.
Trials for Boston, Los Angeles, and Tampa will bring the total zonal trial tally to 14 across the country. Originally scheduled for the end of 2020, the three trials were rescheduled due to Covid-19 precautions.
Covid-19 has hampered cricket at the national level in Southern California and Florida. Along with the previous suspension of zonal USA trials, Southern California and Florida accounted for all six of the Minor League Cricket teams that did not participate in the 2020 exhibition season, with the three Florida teams not even naming their squads.
‘It was very difficult watching the exhibition games going on while we didn’t get to participate, But it was because of the Covid 19 pandemic so I understood. Florida was hit very hard,’ former USA U-19 player and South Zone selection Dunae Nathaniel told Emerging Cricket.
‘The good thing is the local cricket league, Florida Cricket Conference, carried on with the season following strict Covid guidelines, so it allowed the local guys in central Florida including myself to keep playing and stay in touch.’
Zonal teams were named last month, but according to USA Cricket Operations Director, Richard Done, they’re not etched in stone. ‘I would like to reemphasize that all of our Selection Panels may add players to, or remove players from, their relevant Zonal Training Groups based on their ongoing attitude, fitness, skill development and performance,’ Done said in the announcement.
‘Players may also graduate from a Zonal Training Group to the National Training Group where appropriate. Finally, we would again like to thank the wider community for their support, including all players, coaches, volunteers, venues, clubs, leagues and academies that have been involved in making these events a success and helping set us up strongly for a huge year of cricket in 2021.’
Boston trials will take place on March 13 and 14, with Los Angeles and Tampa trials taking place on March 20 and 21.
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