Abhimanyu Rajp talks about co-ownership of SoCal Lashings in Minor League Cricket

With Minor League Cricket (MLC) soon to launch in the US with ten franchises, usacricketers.com checked in with one of the recently announced co-owners Abhimanyu Rajp of SoCal Lashings with a few questions. Mr. Rajp is a former US national cricketer and has represented the country internationally.

What is the process of becoming a team owner in Minor League Cricket?
I can’t talk about others, but for both Deepak (Deepak Gosain) and I (Lashings) it was a very rigorous process. We were preparing for this offer (to become team owners) late last year. We had to submit a business proposal with all the relevant information: finances, ownership structure, advisory committee members, selectors, future coaches, etc. I think the most important factor was our will and passion to do it from a player’s perspective. As a former US national player and have played at every level that American cricket has to offer me, I have seen all the ups and downs of how cricket is managed in the US so that helped with our bid.

You have played competitive cricket all over the world, how else do you see your new role as co-owner of a team?
I do not know yet. What I do know is that I am going to make mistakes and have to adapt quickly and learn from those setbacks. Neither Deepak nor I have ever been team owners of this size, so it’s certainly an exhilarating ride. We are grateful to MLC for this opportunity. What I do know is that I want a non-biased approach to all aspects of our team, be it on administration or in the field. I come from those grassroots where merit is considered above all else, and that’s what I know is missing from time to time no matter what level of cricket I’ve played or the places I’ve played. We want to build a family of players, show them a path to their dreams at a national / professional level and help them in every way possible. I’ve done it on that level and I know I can help others.

Why have you invested in a cricket team in MLC and what challenges do you see?
You cannot change anything from the outside. You have to intervene and try for yourself. Whether one is successful or not, the effort is needed and actions are required. I think the Minor League has the potential to become the professional domestic T20 structure for the United States in the future, feeding players to our national team, Major League, GT20, CPL, etc. In the long run, I would recommend it compare with the T20 variant of other domestic tournaments around the world (Ranji / Sheffield / County, etc.). We wanted to be part of this story from the beginning. I see a plethora of challenges coming, for example infrastructure, pro players, academies and building a cricket ecosystem, etc. But I believe the main challenge we have before our hands is how to build the mindset of a league / club can change cricketer to push their limits and make the players understand that collective success will help us all, and that we need to share the spotlight. Currently, in my opinion, American cricket has too much individuality and not enough cohesion.

Who is Deepak Gosain, the other owner of the SoCal Lashings?
Deepak by profession is a businessman and a cricketer by passion. He has played a decent level / amount of cricket. What I like most about him is that he is a selfless person who fights really hard on the field. I’ve seen this guy take over a regular team (CSUF) from the bottom division to become a Division 1 champion in the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA), not an easy task. He likes to share the spotlight and bring players forward and he supplies the fuel for their fire. He was also a former captain of the SCCA senior team. Deepak and I have been good friends for a while and I hope this bond will grow stronger with this partnership. Let’s just say he’s a man of his word, a rare quality.

Who are some of the players drafted by the SoCal Lashings franchise?
For the 2020 exhibition matches, we have insured all local domestic players who have surpassed the competition in our selection zones. Names about which people don’t hear much at the national level, but which should be. You can blame this on the lack of national tournaments or regional matches. Some of the players in our line-up include former first-class and current national players such as Gayan Fernando (Sri Lanka), Kalyan Madireddy (Hyderabad), Hammad Shahid (USA) and Kaniskha Chaugai (a 3x Under-19 World Cup player and former Nepalese captain) just to name a few. We have a great mix of players in our roster. We wanted to make sure we pick a good, diverse group and help each other improve. Next year we will turn our attention to some professional players to improve the squad and further elevate the game.

Are there any age limits or other requirements for including players on the SoCal Lashings team?
Fielding is an essential aspect of Lashings, something that is almost always missing from a league / club level team. We want players who take pride in their fielding skills. I have noticed so far in my career that better fielders usually make up for a more disciplined cricketer. Regarding the age limit; Yes, MLC has mandated that we have a total of three U-21 players in our arsenal, and with good reason. For example, in our region there are three teams, so there will be a total of nine Under-21 players in the three squads.

What are some of your plans to create positive experiences for players on the SoCal Lashings team?
Positivity arises from the atmosphere around us. We are still working on the kinks and structure, which are not a priority due to COVID, but it is one of our priorities in 2021. We are treating 2020 as a launch pad for the players we want to keep for the full 2021 season, but also those us the most hungry in these exhibition games when they do happen.

What are you most looking forward to in the tournament’s first season?
Everything is so uncertain (because of COVID) that I cannot point out one specific thing. Right now, the main challenge Deepak and I face is making sure our players understand the magnitude of cricket they are going to experience. I don’t think players fully understand what Minor League Cricket will do for cricket here in the US.