News

Phill included in USA U-17 squad

Keifer Phill, the 2014 NY PSAL Wingate Award winner, has been named in the USA U-17 squad that will take part in the ICC Americas High Performance Match Play Camp in Bermuda

Keifer Phill was the youngest player in USA's U-19 squad at the 2013 ICC Americas U-19 championship  •  Peter Della Penna/Peter Della Penna

Keifer Phill was the youngest player in USA's U-19 squad at the 2013 ICC Americas U-19 championship  •  Peter Della Penna/Peter Della Penna

Keifer Phill, the 2014 NY PSAL (New York Public Schools Athletic League) Wingate Award winner as the most outstanding senior in the only high school cricket league in America, has been named as part of a 14-player USA U-17 squad that will take part in the ICC Americas High Performance Match Play Camp from August 18-23 in Bermuda. Canada will also travel to Bermuda to participate in a double-round-robin triangular series of 50-over matches.
Phill was the youngest player in USA's U-19 squad, which finished runner-up to Canada at the 2013 ICC Americas U-19 championship. He was selected as a seam bowler for the tour and did not see action during the 50-over series but has developed his all-round skills over the past year and produced a century for his PSAL side, High School for Construction.
The U-17 team going to Bermuda also includes former USA U-15 representatives Sagar Patel and Mihir Athavale. Both players toured with USA's junior team to Winnipeg, Canada in 2011 where they captured the ICC Americas U-15 regional championship.
The other notable name in the team is Mohak Buch, who won the Best Batsman award last month at the USA Cricket Association U-15 National Championship in Cupertino, California. Buch scored 167 runs, including a century in the tournament final, for the title-winning North West Region team. He is the younger brother of former USA U-19 player Arsh Buch and the son of Hemant Buch, USACA's head of youth tournaments.
The squad will depart for Bermuda on August 17. USACA has not announced a coaching staff or management for the touring side. The six-day event is a key chance for players to get experience and preparation for next year's ICC Americas U-19 qualifier with the winner representing the Americas region at the 2016 ICC U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
USA U-17 squad: Mihir Athavale, Vivek Barbhaiya (wk), Novendra Boodhoo, Mohak Buch, Kusal Ganji, Gaurav Patankar, Arjun Patel, Jash Patel, Sagar Patel, Shehan Perara, Chetram Persaud, Keifer Phill, Nahusha Rao, Gauranshu Sharma.

Peter Della Penna is ESPNcricinfo's USA correspondent. @PeterDellaPenna