“If you really nurture us, there’s so much talent in Associate cricket,” says USA batter

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USA batter Shayan Jahangir has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide greater financial backing and more high-quality playing opportunities to Associate nations, ahead of the USA’s must-win T20 World Cup fixture against the Netherlands in Chennai.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Jahangir highlighted the stark contrast in preparation between Full Member sides and Associate teams. He pointed out that leading nations entered the tournament after playing major bilateral T20 series, while USA were limited to less competitive fixtures. According to Jahangir, this imbalance is closely linked to funding, infrastructure, and access to top-level competitions, areas where Associate nations continue to lag behind.

Jahangir cited Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal as a prime example of unfulfilled potential due to limited exposure. Despite holding the record for the fastest T20I fifty, Airee has had very few opportunities against Full Member teams. Jahangir stressed that performances of such quality would earn global recognition if they consistently came at the highest level.

USA’s own build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup was far from ideal, with administrative issues disrupting preparations and the team entering the tournament without having played a T20I since April 2025. Even so, USA impressed early on, pushing tournament favourites India hard in Mumbai before Suryakumar Yadav guided India out of trouble. Fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk has further underlined USA’s promise by emerging as one of the standout performers with the ball.

Jahangir believes the ongoing World Cup has shown that Associate nations are no longer pushovers. He pointed to Nepal’s near-upset against England and USA’s strong showing against India as evidence that the gap is narrowing. However, he reiterated that players are achieving these results largely through personal effort, without the financial security or infrastructure enjoyed by bigger nations, and argued that increased ICC support could rapidly transform the competitive landscape.

He also credited Major League Cricket for accelerating the growth of the sport in the United States. Regular interaction with elite international players, Jahangir said, has boosted confidence levels within the squad and sparked wider interest in cricket across the country, particularly among young players.

Born in Karachi, Jahangir represented Pakistan Under-19 and later played first-class cricket for Pakistan International Airlines before relocating to the USA. Since making his international debut in 2022, he has embraced his new journey and recently impressed with a fluent innings against Pakistan in Colombo.

Looking ahead, Jahangir believes franchise cricket will continue to play a vital role in bridging the gap for Associate players. With stints across global leagues and an upcoming appearance in the Pakistan Super League, he feels exposure to elite environments builds belief and sharpens skills. If more Associate players are given similar chances, Jahangir is confident their talent will shine and the traditional hierarchy of international cricket will continue to be challenged.