Naming of USA squad adds to unrest

The USA Cricket Association has named a 30-man squad for the forthcoming ICC Trophy but, as with most things connected with US cricket at the moment, the announcement immediately started a battle over who exactly had the right to pick the side.

The old USACA board, led by the president Gladstone Dainty, chose the squad - and at the same time named the same management team which had overseen the USA's participation in the Champions Trophy in England last September - but the alternative new board, backed by the Council of League Presidents, is believed to be about to tell the ICC that the side is not representative of the best players in the country. It is expected that a request will be made that the ICC does not recognise the selections until the ongoing disputes over who actually runs US cricket are resolved.

Critics were quick to point out that the side contains many of the players who were condemned for their performances in the Champions Trophy. That team was also labelled as a virtual Dad's Army, given the average age of the players. Another surprise is the inclusion of Imran Awan, the player who returned home early from the tournament in circumstances which have never been fully explained.