Former India U-19 cricket team captain Unmukt Chand has rebuffed reports stating that he is signing a deal to continue his career in the United States of America. On Sunday, May 9, former Pakistan opener Sami Aslam had stated that more than 100 first-class cricketers from Pakistan and 30-40 foreign players are considering playing cricket in the USA.
Aslam specifically mentioned that the likes of Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh are amongst those players who want to play in the Major League Cricket, which is a new T20 league in the country.
“30 or 40 foreign players have arrived in America recently. A few former Under-19 Indian players have also arrived, including Unmukt Chand, Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh,” Aslam told pakpassion.net.
There are many players from South Africa over here now who have played a lot of first-class cricket in their homeland. Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson is also here,” he added.
Responding to the speculation, 28-year-old Chand, who was picked in Delhi's limited-overs side earlier this year, said that the purpose for his visit to the USA was nothing but a ‘leisure trip’.
“I had gone to the USA to visit my relatives, and of course when there, I went for a bat or two — just to practise. I had gone to the training session just because I had come here, but I have done nothing like signing anything in the USA,” he told Indian Express.
“This trip is nothing but a leisure tour,” he added.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow the Indian players, contracted or uncontracted, to play franchise cricket outside the country. The player needs to retire first to play in overseas T20 Leagues.
The Indian Express goes on to report that Chand’s U-19 teammates Harmeet Singh and Smit Patel are indeed playing in the official Major Cricket League practice matches, but Chand, himself, has denied any kind of involvement.
Featured photo: AFP / Saeed Khan
