Bio

Sagar Patel got his chance in the US team as a direct replacement for Fahad Babar when he was injured prior to the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Uganda in early 2017.

He is a young opening batsman who has previously represented the US at U19 level, but in recent seasons advanced ahead of his contemporaries under the tutelage of USA head selector Ricardo Powell.

Has a great opportunity to cement a spot in the top order with Babar’s ongoing injury concerns and Taylor’s commitments with Jamaica.

28

Playing Number

Team Role

Opening Batsman

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Nickname

Sagi

Country of Birth

USA

Career Highlights

Making 70 against Nepal in England, making 36 on debut for the US Men’s team against Oman, and making 66 not out against Uganda U19.

Favorite Cricketer

Sachin Tendulkar

He is a young opening batsman who has previously represented the US at U19 level

Bio Continued...

Memphis, Tennessee. Best known for its central role in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s, or perhaps for ‘Graceland’, the late Elvis Presley’s famous Mansion come tourist destination.

Whatever springs to mind when you think of Memphis, you would certainly be forgiven for not thinking that it is renowned for producing high quality cricketers capable of performing on the world stage. And until recently you would have been correct in that assumption. But a young man by the name of Sagar Patel may be about to change all that.

A Memphis native, Patel got his chance in the Senior side as a 19 year old when regular opener Fahad Babar was injured prior to the ICC WCL Division 3 tournament in Uganda. He may have been selected for the tour regardless, given his impressive if middling performances in the warm up matches, where he was in the top couple of run scorers for the USA.

This was a rapid, if not entirely unexpected rise for Patel given he had already represented the US at U15, U17, and U19 level. By his own admission however he was an ‘…ordinary youth player’, which he freely admits with the confidence of one who now understands his game more fully, and who recognizes the advancements he has made in recent years. He credits much of this improvement to the personal coaching and mentorship he has received from ex West Indies ODI and Test player, and current US head selector, Ricardo Powell.

Powell was based in Memphis for a season, allowing he and Sagar to play on the same club team. Patel also benefitted from one-on-one coaching from Powell throughout the week. For a time, Powell would also travel to Memphis from his then home in Texas for days on end to give Patel the benefit of his experience. Obviously this was a great opportunity for Patel to learn from one of the most experienced international cricketers in the country. And the rapid improvement in his game is a testament to the tutelage of Powell.

Patel also had the fortune of traveling to a number of overseas destinations to play cricket as a youngster. Experience in foreign conditions, on a variety of surfaces, and in uncomfortable environments has given his game a maturity that is often not seen in US cricketers 10 years his senior.