Top 4 International Cricketers Who Changed Their Nationalities

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Just like other sports, changing nationalities isn’t an uncommon occurrence in the world of cricket anymore, as a few top-notch international cricketers have changed their nationalities over a period of time.

Over the years, numerous international cricketers have taken the hard decision to change their country of birth and switch their nationalities for numerous shocking reasons, including lack of career opportunities. While switching nationalities isn’t a big deal anymore in the world of cricket, it’s always a shocking thing to witness for the hardcore fans of these international cricketers.

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In this article, we will take a look at the top four international cricketers who have changed their nationalities.

Top 4 International Cricketers Who Changed Their Nationalities

• Corey Anderson

At the first spot on our list of top four international cricketers who have changed their nationalities, we have Corey Anderson, a New Zealand-born cricketer who took the decision to change his nationality and became a permanent citizen of the United States.

Although Corey Anderson was considered one of the most formidable all-rounder in New Zealand’s cricket team, according to the report, the cricketer often felt “under-valued”, which ultimately led him to announce his official retirement from New Zealand’s national cricket team in 2020.

Often hailed as one of the most competent cricketers in the T20 leagues, Corey Anderson openly expressed his desire to play for the United States in 2022 and signed a three-year contract with the USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC) in the same year.

• Imran Tahir

Often hailed as one of the most dreadful bowlers in the limited-over format, Imran Tahir, who initially represented Pakistan’s U-19 team and Pakistan A Side, is at the second spot on our list of top five international cricketers who have changed their nationalities.

Imran Tahir, despite being one of the finest leg-spinners, experienced a rough time in his home country, Pakistan, and therefore he decided to move away from Pakistan, the country he was born in, to South Africa and married a South African woman, Sumayya Dildar, in 2005, thus making him a South African resident.

Imran Tahir became a part of the South African cricket team, displayed his wrath against the opposition teams, and became the fastest South African bowler to pick up 100 ODI wickets and 50 T20I wickets. While Imran Tahir’s decision to change his nationality came as a major shock to his fans, his career growth while playing for the South African cricket team quite justified his path-breaking call.

• Morne Morkel

The 40-year-old former South African cricketer and current bowling coach of the Indian national cricket team, Morne Morkel, who represented the South African cricket team across all formats of international cricket from 2006 to 2018, took the decision to change his nationality and became a permanent resident of Australia on 6 November 2020 after announcing his official retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2018 right after playing his career’s last four-match test series against Australia in March 2018.

Morne Morkel also proved his mettle in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and played for numerous prominent IPL franchises, including Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

• Jonathan Trott

Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott is the fourth cricketer on our list of the top four international cricketers who have changed their nationalities. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Jonathan Trott initially played for South Africa at the U-15 and U-19 levels.

Although Jonathan Trott undoubtedly had an extremely promising cricketing career ahead of him in his home country of South Africa, the cricketer still took the plunge and moved to England in 2003 and started playing County Cricket for Warwickshire. Later in 2007, Jonathan Trott made his much-awaited debut for England’s national cricket team and played a total of sixty-eight ODIs and 52 tests in his glorious cricketing career.

Before officially announcing his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2015, Jonathan Trott was honored with the most coveted ICC Cricketer of the Year award in 2011.

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