It has been 17 long years since former national pacer Gholam Mohammad Nousher also known as Prince started living in USA. The 59-year-old has been one of the key members in shaping up cricket in this part of the world and he is currently serving as a member of the cricket operations of USA Cricket.

USA is all set to host one of the biggest cricketing festivities ‘ICC T20 World Cup’ in a few days and the former national selector recently talked to The Daily Sun on many aspects including the change in cricket culture in USA, their domestic tournaments and the chances of Bangladesh in the event.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:  

The Daily Sun: From a cricket perspective, what does this World Cup bring to USA?

Gholam Mohammad Nousher Prince: Look, a lot of people from the cricketing world stay here in USA. You don’t need two crore people to play cricket. For example, look at New Zealand and how they have developed as a cricketing nation. You need quality players, not quantity. It (the World Cup) will certainly help USA as the seven or eight-year-old kids are coming out of their houses and are being coached in different cricket academies. It’s a land of immigrants and the game cricket does not surprise anyone because it is popular with both white and black Americans.

Along the way, it will help USA to grow its infrastructure. More importantly, the World Cup will help us in getting into the schools as we are pushing cricket in the schools. If that is the case, you don’t have to do anything extra like giving a presentation to make them understand the game. Once we get into the school, it will bring change totally.

The Daily Sun: Do Americans have time to sit and enjoy the game of cricket? Do they have the mentality to accept the sport on a high scale?
Gholam Mohammad Nousher Prince: Look, they know how to play baseball and it is quite close to cricket. Earlier they were afraid of the game as it takes five days or one whole day to complete the game. But with T20 cricket, that is not the case anymore because the game ends within three hours.

They are okay with it as it also takes three to four hours to complete a basketball game and nearly three and a half hours to complete a game of American soccer. Firstly, if we can encourage them to a shorter format, they can also spare a day to play one-day cricket.

But they are gradually welcoming T20 cricket as the time span is short. We have to make them interested and if that happens, it won’t take long to get going because the way Mexican boys are dominating baseball these days, it will be the same with cricket because their skill level is high.
The Daily Sun: How is Major League helping American cricket?

Gholam Mohammad Nousher Prince: To be honest, in a big way. Look at our USA team and all the members are playing in the Major League. They are mixing with the big players in Major League and that is helping them to share experience. As you are competing with top players in the world, it is raising their confidence. Along the way, it is also promoting cricket in a big way in America.

These leagues followed by the global event will certainly help cricket grow in a big way in USA.
The Daily Sun: What are the chances of Bangladesh in the World Cup?

Gholam Mohammad Nousher Prince: Bangladesh lost the T20I series in Houston and that was certainly disappointing. However, at the same time, the wicket was slow there. It will not be the case when they will play in New York and Dallas as the wickets will be different. I hope if they can execute their skills by adapting to the conditions, they will go a long way.