Two former ITEC Knights cricketers have been named in the USA national team for their upcoming international series against Canada.

The USA, who will be co-hosts for the 2024 ICC men's T20 World Cup along with the West Indies will face their northern neighbours in a series of five-matches at home.

The USA are in Group 4 for the T20 World Cup where they will get to play against India, Pakistan, Ireland and Canada.

The seamer Shadley van Schalkwyk as well as the batter Andries Gous have been named in their 15-man American team.

A former New Zealand international, Corey Anderson, has also been included in the squad.

The 35-year-old Van Schalkwyk, who originally hails from Cape Town, played for the Knights and Free State from 2008 and until 2020. In 2021 he started plying his trade for the Seattle Thunderbolts in the USA.

The 30-year-old batter, Gous, made his debut for the Knights in 2012 and played for them until the end of the 2021 season. The Welkom-born Gous played for the Washington Freedom in the inaugural Major League Cricket tournament in America earlier in the season.

Neither Van Schalkwyk nor Gous have previously represented South Africa in international cricket. This is a massive opportunity for both players to not only play international cricket, but also in a World Cup.

Andries Gous - Cricinfo

Other former Knights that have been playing in the USA are Corné Dry, who is the younger brother of the former Free State rugby captain and Springbok Sevens legend, Chris Dry; and the allrounder, Obus Pienaar.

The current Knights and Proteas spinner, Dane Piedt, also enjoyed a stint in the USA.

USA squad - Monank Patel (captain), Aaron Jones (vice-captain), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Gajanand Singh, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Usman Rafiq

Morgan Piek OFM Sport