First in six decades: India-born Nikhil Chaudhary added to Australia’s T20 squad
The three-match series will be held in Chattogram between June 17-21. Chaudhary plays for JB Bruges in the EUT20 competition in Belgium and played for Delhi Capitals in the last IPL.
He will join Australia’s white-ball teams in Dhaka on Friday.
“The panel was particularly impressed with his BBL form last season, which led to his addition to the squad,” cricketer Tony Dodemaide was quoted as saying. com. Ah.
“Nikhil will gain invaluable experience in Bangladesh and will be in contention to play his first match for Australia when we sit down here next week to select a team for the opening T20 fixture,” he added.
“Australia has featured many players of Indian origin in international cricket, including Gurinder Sandhu and Tanveer Sangha, but not since the 1960s (when Gujarat-born leg-spinner Rex Sellars, who featured in the 1964 Kolkata Test, had an Indian-born man play for the national team),” the website noted.
Born in Pune, Lisa Sthalekar played women’s cricket for Australia and is considered among the best in cricket. Sthalekar debuted in 2003 and continued playing in various formats until 2013. Chaudhary, 30, is not yet an Australian citizen but as a permanent resident he “meets the eligibility criteria to play for his country as adopted by the International Cricket Council.”
The Delhi-born player has made 14 List A appearances for Punjab in his home country.
He was visiting an uncle in Queensland in 2020 when his stay was extended due to the lockdown forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. While here he did odd jobs, including being a postman, before catching the eye of former Australian all-rounder James Hopes, who introduced him to domestic cricket.
“After helping Hobart to the BBL|14 title, his best season with the bat came last summer, when he scored 307 runs at 30.70 and a strike rate of 153, but his role with the ball has diminished due to the recruitment of fellow wrist spinners Rehan Ahmed and Rishad Hossain.” com. Au reported.
Australia T20I squad:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Nikhil Chaudhary, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa.
