USA going all out to live up to ODI status

The USA acquired ODI status in 2019 and are looking for active international cricketers so that they can make a strong squad to live up to the status. Big names like Corey Anderson, Liam Plunkett, and Sami Aslam are in line to represent the USA in international cricket. 

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, ODI status is spurring an ambitious recruitment drive by USA Cricket that could eventually lead to it fielding active internationals from around the world. 

Anderson, the Kiwi all-rounder who last played for New Zealand in November 2018, is now on the radar of USA Cricket. He is likely to become a marquee player for USA's Major League Cricket which is scheduled to begin in 2022. Anderson spent most of the time since the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic in Texas, where his fiancee is based. The southpaw did not participate either in the Plunket Shield or the Ford Trophy during the New Zealand summer.

Liam Plunkett, a key member of England's maiden World Cup-winning side, is another player targeted by USA Cricket. Plunkett hasn't been called to resume training and it can be understood that his career in English colors is done and dusted. Plunkett spends a lot of time with his wife in Pennsylvania and could secure an American passport through her. The paceman, earlier, expressed his interest to play for the USA.

Former Pakistan Test opener Sami Aslam, who has fallen out of favor since 2017, is another player who can represent the USA in near future.

Former South Africa internationals Rusty Theron and Dane Piedt have already signed up to play for the USA. Former Caribbean batsman Xavier Marshall has already represented the USA in international cricket. 

USA Cricket received a major boost when Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders announced that it would invest in the Major League cricket as well as own a franchise in it.