(19 Apr 2017) Indian-born US national cricket team player Timil Kaushik Patel became a naturalised US citizen on Tuesday – a move he hopes will help bolster his new country’s team.
The 33-year-old California resident took the oath to naturalise at a ceremony in Los Angeles with nearly 3,800 immigrants from more than 100 countries.
Until now, Patel has been occupying one of three slots on the US national team for short-term residents of the country who are not US citizens.
Becoming a US citizen shores up his standing as a player and helps the national team bring on talented new players before a key tournament in Uganda next month, he said.
Patel, who recently signed to play cricket for the Saint Lucia Stars along with the US national team, moved to the US from India seven years ago with his family.
He said he played for a junior national team in India but couldn’t start playing for the US team until he met a four-year US-residency requirement.
Since the team is made up largely of immigrants from India, Pakistan and other countries where cricket is popular, Patel said it’s key for those who can naturalise to do so to bring on new players.
Patel, also has a medical transport business in California.

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