Usman Shuja finished his career as USAs top 50 over wicket taker of all time. He made his official USA debut in 2006, taking 53 wickets in 35 matches. Since his retirement in 2015 he continues to be involved with junior coaching in and around the Houston area.
Here’s Usman’s answers to the #SixHitter questions.
1.Tell us how you got involved in Cricket, what’s your role/association now?
I grew up in a cricket family so got involved early due to my father. In the US, during college I realized the pathway to play for the US team and started playing select cricket in Houston and Dallas during college years. I ended up representing the US national team for almost a decade. Now, I serve as an advisor to the ICC for their efforts in the US and lead youth coaching program in Texas.
2. Describe yourself in three words
Persistent, Team Oriented, Visionary
3. What is your earliest cricket memory?
Playing in the backyard mimicking Test players of the time; visiting The Lord’s Cricket ground when I was four years old
4. What is your favourite cricket moment of all time?
Waqar Younis cleaning up Brian Lara’s leg stump with a banana in-swinger in 1997; insignificant incident but had a deep influence on my bowling
5. What is the one development you would like to see in domestic cricket, and in international cricket?
Domestically: Involvement of beginners with non-cricket background;
Internationally: Revamp of Test cricket to make the format interesting
6. Where do see cricket in the USA in 10 years’ time?
USA teams (female / male) to be a competitive force in World T20 & win an Olympic medal if cricket becomes an Olympic sport; integrated in USA school and college systems and financially self-sufficient sport involving people from beyond cricket playing demographics
