The United States has announced its 15 player squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Indian origin wicketkeeper batsman Monank Patel appointed as captain. The tournament will begin on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The American team is scheduled to face defending champions India in the opening match in Mumbai, a high profile clash expected to draw global attention.
A significant portion of the squad remains unchanged from the previous T20 World Cup held in the Americas. Ten of the 15 selected players were part of that campaign, underlining the management’s confidence in a group that delivered historic results. During the last edition, the United States recorded a memorable victory over Pakistan and advanced to the Super Eight stage. That performance marked a turning point for American cricket and strengthened its presence on the international stage.
The squad selection comes after administrative challenges within USA Cricket. On September 23 last year, the International Cricket Council suspended USA Cricket due to serious breaches of membership criteria. In response, a new and more transparent selection structure was introduced. This revised system was developed in partnership with the ICC and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to ensure a fair and merit based evaluation process for all eligible players.
Officials confirmed that every member of the selection panel submitted formal conflict of interest declarations before the final decision was made. The selection meeting was also observed by a compliance officer appointed by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to guarantee that all procedures were properly followed. These steps were implemented to reinforce governance standards and restore credibility within the sport’s national administration.
In preparation for the upcoming global event, the team completed several weeks of training in Sri Lanka. The camp focused on sharpening technical skills, improving match awareness, and building stronger team coordination. Head coach Pubudu Dassanayake expressed confidence in the squad, stating that the players consistently met performance targets during the training period. He described the team as balanced and capable of competing effectively across batting, bowling, and fielding departments.
Placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands, the United States will face strong competition. With experienced players, structured oversight, and leadership under Monank Patel, the team aims to build on its previous achievements and deliver another impactful performance on the world stage.
