Four New Yorkers In Squad For India Tour

By Orin Davidson
Four New York players are included in a 16-person junior team drawn from the American Cricket Academy of New Jersey that will tour India next month for a series of matches.

New York Under-19 captain Akeem Dodson, Gregory Sewdial, Alex Kirton and Dominic Audain were selected in the team comprising players mainly from New Jersey and others of California and Florida. In addition five officials make up the touring party.

Batsman/wicketkeeper Dodson, spinner Kirton and allrounder Sewdial spearheaded New York to a resounding title triumph in the recent United States national Under-19 championships, with the latter carting off the Most Valuable Player award.

Audain, one of the best young fast bowlers in the country was ineligible for Under-19 competition this year. He represented the United States last year in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka along with Dodson and Kirton.

Opening Ravi Timbawala of Los Angeles and Nisarg Patel are two experienced squad members who were also in the World Cup team.

Dineth Ketagoda, a promising leg spinner also of Los Angeles is included along with exciting wicketkeeper batsman Saami Siddiqui.

The team will leave on December 20 and returns on January 4.

New Yorker Linden Fraser is the coach while Ashook Patel with perform duties as manager. United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) secretary Selwyn Caesar is also making the trip along with New York official Clifford Hinds, public relations officer Arun Vitalla and tour coordinator Rashmi Patel.

Squad: Akeem Dodson, Ravi Timbawala, Dhirin Patel, Dineth Ketagoda, Alex Kirton, Dominic Audain, Nisarg Patel, Dhruv Mehra, Brijesh Patel, Romero Dean, Anvit Patel, Saami Siddiqui Matthew Hivner, Gregory Sewdial, Arpan Patel and Kartik Vittala.
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