The former Knights batter, Andries Gous, is ready and geared for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup that will be played in the West Indies and the USA next month.

Gous has been selected to represent the USA at the World Cup after making his debut for the team during the five-match T20 International series against Canada.

He made an immediate impact on his debut by scoring a 50, while in the next game, he backed that up with another half-century.

Along with Gous, another former Free State and Knight cricketer, Shadley van Schalkwyk, made his debut against Canada, and he too has been selected for the World Cup after finishing as the joint leading wicket-taker in that series.

Andries Gous - Getty

Gous told OFM Sport that he has no regrets and is excited to play in a World Cup.

“It is good to be recognized by being able to play in this World Cup,” said Gous.

“It is every cricketer’s dream to compete the best in the world at the World Cup, so ja, for me it is definitely a dream come true, and I am guessing that it will no doubt be the same for Shadley as well.”

Gous added that there is a buzz in the USA regarding the World Cup and the tickets are selling like hot cake.

“The excitement levels are pretty high in this country. This is a massive cricketing community in most of the cities here and the excitement levels are really high for this World Cup. A lot of the tickets in the United States are already sold out. 

“We are already playing against Canada in the first game of the World Cup, and the tickets for this game have been sold out already. That just shows you that the cricketing communities here are really excited.”

Shadley van Schalkwyk - Getty

He added that the sacrifices he and his family made, along with those of Van Schalkwyk, were all worthwhile and they are now starting to reap the rewards.

“On a personal note, it just shows that the decision we made to move to the States and all the hard work and sacrifices that we had to make is finally paying off and now we can just go out and reap the rewards.

“It is awesome to be in this World Cup squad and knowing that we will play against some of the best teams in the world. It is truly exciting.”

The USA will face Canada in Dallas on 2 June in the opening game of the T20 World Cup.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport