By Peter Della Penna
DreamCricket.com
is wrapping up the year in United States Cricket by recognizing USA’s
standout performers at the international level. The
2010 Radiant Info Newcomer of the Year is 20-year-old off-spin bowler Muhammad Ghous.
Pic (Right): Muhammad Ghous will receive a plaque and a $250 gift certificate courtesy of New Inning Foundation and Radiant Info
Ghous had been building a strong profile in 2009 for his
performances while helping the USA U-19 team qualify for the 2010 U-19
World Cup in New Zealand.
While he won
the Tournament MVP award at the 2009 U-19 National Tournament after
leading the tournament in runs scored for the Atlantic Region, it was
his bowling that really came on strong in Canada and New Zealand.
After coming back from New Zealand, Ghous participated at
selection trials in New York in April in an effort to make the squad
that would be going to Bermuda in May for the ICC Americas Division One
tournament. Ghous did enough to impress and wound up making his debut
for USA before the tour of Bermuda against Jamaica when he took 2 for
42 in Florida and he never looked back.
His best figures came against Tanzania at ICC World Cricket League
Division Four in Italy where he took 4 for 15 in a 10-wicket win. He
was instrumental throughout that tournament in helping USA win the
Division Four title.
Ghous finished the year as USA’s third highest wicket taker with
21 in 15 matches. He took five wickets in as many Twenty20 matches
while he took 16 wickets in 10 50-over games. He was also USA’s most
economical bowler of the year in 50-over matches, giving up 2.87 runs
per over in 90 overs bowled.
The future is bright for Ghous and he is one player USA will be
expecting to build around for the next several years. As a newcomer to
USA’s senior squad, he stepped up to the challenge and always managed
to come through for his team and country.
In recognition of his achievement, Ghous will
receive a plaque as well as a $250 gift certificate sponsored by the
New Inning Foundation, DreamCricket.com and Radiant Info.