USA Vice-Captain Aaron Jones Anticipates Thrilling T20 World Cup Opener Against Rival Canada
USA Vice-Captain Aaron Jones Reflects on Historic USA-Canada Rivalry Ahead of T20 World Cup Opener:
Says that despite recently defeating Canada 4-0 and shocking Bangladesh, the USA is not relaxed ahead of the T20 World Cup curtain-raiser. T20 World Cup 2024 will begin on Saturday in Dallas with a match between the competition’s co-hosts, the United States and Canada, who are neighbors in North America. And so, back in 1844, these two sides engaged in the inaugural international cricket match. Vice captain of the USA Aaron Jones is aware of the rivalry’s past.
At a press conference on the eve of the World Cup start, Jones stated, “As everybody knows, USA and Canada played the first international game, so this has been something that was going on for years and years.”
Regarding the players, we are all buddies who have spent years playing alongside and against one another. Everyone is happy and well, but we all know that there is some competition between the fans. Both Canada and we love to play against each other. We are eager for the task since we are certain that it will be difficult.”
Prior to the World Cup, the USA dominated Canada 4-0 in a T20I series in April and defeated Bangladesh in a historic series in May. But Jones isn’t letting his prior performance get to him.
“I don’t really want to focus on the 4-0 victory in the last series [against Canada],” Jones stated. “Well, that’s already over, and to be honest, the team we faced in that series isn’t the same one we’ll face tomorrow.
“This is the inaugural World Cup match.” Both teams are likely to be under pressure. Both teams will be under strain because of our intense rivalry with Canada, which is well known. To be honest, the winner will be the one who can withstand the most pressure tomorrow.”
Canada’s captain, Saad Bin Zafar, stated, “We have had some great competitive cricket against the US over the past few years.” “So we are hoping that we can play entertaining cricket.”
Saad is excited for the Canadian players to get the opportunity to compete at the greatest level.
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“Even coming from the qualifiers, as I mentioned for all of our players, it was like a dream to represent Canada in a World Cup,” he stated. “It is rare for us to face up against the world’s best nations. We only get to compete and put our skills to the test against the best in the world at the World Cup. And at last, here we are.
Although it’s a bit emotional, we were hoping for this chance. At last, we understood. And all we want from this World Cup is to perform to our ability and represent Canada well.”
Nitish Kumar is a batting-all-rounder who has experience playing for the nation on both sides of the border. Before playing his first T20I for the USA in the series against Canada in April of this year, he had played 18 T20Is for Canada between 2012 and 2019. Jones emphasized that Nitish will be more than prepared for his former squad on game day because he had prior experience facing them.
“He obviously participated in the match against Canada the last time we faced him in the series [in April], scoring, I believe, sixty-something points [64].” He has been adjusting and blending in nicely, and I believe he is excited to play Canada.”
