USA Women squad of 22 announced for MCC matches

Former teenage sensation Shebani Bhaskar headlines a USA Women development squad of 22 players invited to Philadelphia from September 9 to 11 for a training camp culminating in matches against a women's Marylebone Cricket Club touring side.

American-born Bhaskar, 21, was USA's leading scorer at the 2011 Women's World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh, top-scoring with 72 and pulling off the game-clinching run-out in a one-run win over Zimbabwe.

A host of other USA representatives picked alongside Bhaskar included Candacy Atkins, Erica Rendler, Anahita Arora, Akshatha Rao, Melissa Sandy, Nadia Gruny, Samantha Ramautar, Sara Farooq, Shondell Ward and Zeenat Kauser. The other 11 players are yet to play for USA, though 14-year-old Mahika Kandanala from Dallas, Texas was in USA's squad as a reserve player for the two T20s against Pakistan last year.

Most of the uncapped players were identified through the recent ICC Combines conducted in the spring, with the bulk of players appearing in either New York or San Francisco. The squad of 22 will be divided into USA Red and USA Blue, and an intra-squad match will be held in Philadelphia on September 9. Each team will then play Twenty20s against the touring MCC side on September 10 before USA's best XI will be picked to play against the MCC for another T20 on September 11. Those not making the cut for the MCC game will then play a friendly against a Haverford College XI.

"We are keen to reward some of the women who were able to come to the Combines and show their commitment and ability," USA chairman of selectors Ricardo Powell said in a press release announcing the squad. "However we understand not everyone was able to make the Combine so [we] have included some talented players who have plenty to contribute to the women's game in the USA. This squad is a development squad, we know there are other women and young players across the country that the selectors would also like to see in the future."

The squad will be coached by former USA men's player Anand Tummala. The 37-year-old was shortlisted as a finalist for the USA men's coaching job in July along with former Nepal coach Pubudu Dassanayake. No decision has been made yet regarding the men's job.

USA Women development squad: Candacy Atkins, Anahita Arora, Shebani Bhaskar, Samikshya Aryal, Sugetha Chandhrasekar, Jyotsna Dixit, Sara Farooq, Nadia Gruny, Mahika Kandanala, Zeenat Kausar, Swati Mishra, Muneshri Persaud, Samantha Ramautar, Akshatha Rao, Erica Rendler, Sindhuja Reddy Salguti, Melissa Sandy, Vritti Sethi, Sindhu Sriharsha, Hannah Solomon, Onika Wallerson, Shondell Ward