Associate Members are countries where cricket is firmly established and organised but do not qualify for Full Membership. There are 38 Associate Members, Oman, Afghanistan and Vanuatu being the recently promoted. All Associates play in the ICC World Cricket League, a series of international one-day cricket administered by the ICC. There are some promising cricketers who have done consistently well for their respective countries. Here’s a look at the 5 players who might feature IPL 2016.

<strong>1. Mohammad Shahzad (Afg):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-50109"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-50109" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad T20 Hundred" width="640" height="434" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-50109" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Facebook)</figcaption>

The Afghan cricketer is a right-handed batsman and a fine wicketkeeper. Known as a hard big hitter for the ball, Shahzad has the most number of Twenty20 International Player of the match awards by an affiliate member. With 118 not out against Zimbabwe on 10 January 2016, Shahzad recorded the highest individual score from an Associate nation in T20Is and fourth highest of all time. He was the leading run-scorer 2015 in the shortest format. He played 11 matches and scored 297 runs at a strike rate of 156.31. He hit 3 fifties, smashed 15 sixes and hit 31 fours in the previous year. He also topped the wicket-keeping charts with 12 dismissals that included 7 catches and 5 stumpings.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-16531"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-16531" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" alt="facts about Mohammad Nabi" width="594" height="396" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16531" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption>

The right-handed batsman and off-spinner is the most popular player to have emerged from Afghanistan. He has been a key player for the Afghan team and has been influential in Afghanistan’s rapid rise through the ranks of international cricket. He has also captained his country in the past. In the 3rd edition of the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League, Nabi joined the Rangpur Riders and had a good tournament. In the same year, he played 8 T20Is and picked up 8 wickets and also scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 135.24 with the help of 8 sixes and an equal number of fours.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-41567"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-41567" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Highest individual scores on ODI debut" width="640" height="425" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-41567" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: ICC)</figcaption>

The 21-year-old Hong Kong batsman scored a match-winning 124* from 116 balls on ODI debut against UAE in November 2015. The left-handed middle-order batsman also bowls slow left-arm spin. Chapman has played 19 List A matches scoring 725 runs at an impressive average of 51.78. He was the fifth highest run-scorer in 2015 in T20Is with 226 runs at a strike rate of 122.82. Chapman is qualified to play for New Zealand because his dad is from there. Charlie Burke, who has spent over a decade coaching in Western Australia, the East Asia Pacific region and Hong Kong, believes Chapman is destined to play Test cricket.

<strong>4. Kevin O&#8217;Brien (Ireland):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-51233"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-51233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" alt="Ireland cricketer Kevin O'Brien" width="640" height="401" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-51233" class="wp-caption-text">Ireland cricketer Kevin O&#8217;Brien. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Kevin O’Brien wrote his name into Irish cricketing lore and became a household name in India with that magical World Cup innings against England in Bangalore. By the end of 2014 he represented four English counties, and in T20 competitions in Bangladesh, the West Indies and New Zealand. As well as a belligerent batsman, O&#8217;Brien is also a canny medium-paced bowler, and he has developed his variations during his time in foreign T20 leagues. In 2015, he took 11 wickets from 8 T20Is at a stunning economy rate of 5.00. He got to play only 6 innings, mostly with little time to bat but still managed 109 runs. An IPL contract that has eluded his CV might just become a possibility in 2016.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-45314"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-45314" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" alt="Barisal Bulls" width="627" height="397" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-45314" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCB)</figcaption>

Dutta, who considers Sunil Narine a hero, has an action that is similar to the Trinidadian. Barisal Bulls picked him in the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League. In June last year, he went through Kevin Pietersen’s driving bat and pad, on his CPL debut for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He could play only three games but it was enough to attract the attention of those who are in the loop to connect such talent to the T20 leagues. He became the second Associate player to drop out of the qualifier ICC World T20 Qualifier having chosen the CPL. He has played 4 T20s and picked up 5 wickets with a best of 3/18. In 7 List A matches he has taken 8 wickets. He has played only one ODI for Canada and is yet to feature in a T20 international.

<p>Associate Members are countries where cricket is firmly established and organised but do not qualify for Full Membership. There are 38 Associate Members, Oman, Afghanistan and Vanuatu being the recently promoted. All Associates play in the&nbsp;ICC World Cricket League, a series of international one-day cricket administered by the ICC.&nbsp;There are some promising cricketers who have done consistently well for their respective countries. Here’s a look at the 5 players who might feature IPL 2016.</p>
<h4><strong>1. Mohammad Shahzad (Afg):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_50109" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-50109" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-50109"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-50109" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad T20 Hundred" width="640" height="434" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-50109" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Facebook)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Afghan&nbsp;cricketer&nbsp;is a right-handed&nbsp;batsman&nbsp;and a fine wicketkeeper. Known as a hard big hitter for the ball, Shahzad has the most number of Twenty20 International Player of the match awards by an affiliate member. With 118 not out&nbsp;against Zimbabwe&nbsp;on 10 January 2016, Shahzad recorded the highest individual score from an Associate nation in T20Is and fourth highest of all time. He was the leading run-scorer 2015 in the shortest format. He played 11 matches and scored 297 runs at a strike rate of 156.31. He hit 3 fifties, smashed 15 sixes and hit 31 fours in the previous year. He also topped the wicket-keeping charts with 12 dismissals that included 7 catches and 5 stumpings.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Mohammad Nabi (Afg):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_16531" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16531" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-16531"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-16531" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" alt="facts about Mohammad Nabi" width="594" height="396" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16531" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The right-handed&nbsp;batsman&nbsp;and&nbsp;off-spinner is the most popular player to have emerged from Afghanistan. He has been a key player for the Afghan team&nbsp;and has been influential in Afghanistan’s rapid rise through the ranks of international cricket. He has also captained his country in the past. In the 3rd edition of the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League, Nabi joined the Rangpur Riders and had a good tournament. In the same year, he played 8 T20Is and picked up 8 wickets and also scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 135.24 with the help of 8 sixes and an equal number of fours.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Mark Chapman (HK):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_41567" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-41567" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-41567"><amp-img class="wp-image-41567" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Highest individual scores on ODI debut" width="640" height="425" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-41567" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: ICC)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The 21-year-old Hong Kong batsman&nbsp;scored a match-winning 124* from 116 balls on ODI debut against UAE&nbsp;in November 2015. The left-handed middle-order batsman also bowls slow left-arm spin. Chapman has played 19 List A matches scoring 725 runs at an impressive average of 51.78. He was the fifth highest run-scorer in 2015 in T20Is with 226 runs at a strike rate of 122.82. Chapman is qualified to play for New Zealand because his dad is from there. Charlie Burke, who has spent over a decade coaching in Western Australia, the East Asia Pacific region and Hong Kong, believes Chapman is destined to play Test cricket.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Kevin O’Brien (Ireland):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_51233" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-51233" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-51233"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-51233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" alt="Ireland cricketer Kevin O'Brien" width="640" height="401" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-51233" class="wp-caption-text">Ireland cricketer Kevin O’Brien. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Kevin O’Brien wrote his name into Irish cricketing lore and became a household name in India with that magical World Cup innings against England in Bangalore. By the end of 2014 he represented four English counties, and in T20 competitions in Bangladesh, the West Indies and New Zealand.&nbsp;As well as a belligerent batsman, O’Brien is also a canny medium-paced bowler, and he has developed his variations during his time in foreign T20 leagues. In 2015, he took 11 wickets from 8 T20Is at a stunning economy rate of 5.00. He got to play only 6 innings, mostly with little time to bat but still managed 109 runs. An IPL contract that has eluded his CV might just become a possibility in 2016.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Nikhil Dutta (Can):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_45314" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-45314" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-45314"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-45314" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" alt="Barisal Bulls" width="627" height="397" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-45314" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCB)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Dutta, who considers Sunil Narine a hero, has an action that is similar to the Trinidadian. Barisal Bulls picked him in the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League. In June last year, he went through Kevin Pietersen’s driving bat and pad, on his CPL debut for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He could play only three games but it was enough to attract the attention of those who are in the loop to connect such talent to the T20 leagues. He became the&nbsp;second Associate player&nbsp;to drop out of the qualifier ICC World T20 Qualifier having chosen the CPL. He has played 4 T20s and picked up 5 wickets with a best of 3/18. In 7 List A matches he has taken 8 wickets. He has played only one ODI for Canada and is yet to feature in a T20 international.</p>

<p>Associate Members are countries where cricket is firmly established and organised but do not qualify for Full Membership. There are 38 Associate Members, Oman, Afghanistan and Vanuatu being the recently promoted. All Associates play in the ICC World Cricket League, a series of international one-day cricket administered by the ICC. There are some promising cricketers who have done consistently well for their respective countries. Here’s a look at the 5 players who might feature IPL 2016.</p>
<h4><strong>1. Mohammad Shahzad (Afg):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_50109" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-50109" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-50109"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-50109" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Afghanistan-Mohammad-Shahzad-T20-Hundred.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad T20 Hundred" width="640" height="434" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-50109" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Facebook)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Afghan cricketer is a right-handed batsman and a fine wicketkeeper. Known as a hard big hitter for the ball, Shahzad has the most number of Twenty20 International Player of the match awards by an affiliate member. With 118 not out against Zimbabwe on 10 January 2016, Shahzad recorded the highest individual score from an Associate nation in T20Is and fourth highest of all time. He was the leading run-scorer 2015 in the shortest format. He played 11 matches and scored 297 runs at a strike rate of 156.31. He hit 3 fifties, smashed 15 sixes and hit 31 fours in the previous year. He also topped the wicket-keeping charts with 12 dismissals that included 7 catches and 5 stumpings.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Mohammad Nabi (Afg):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_16531" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16531" style="width: 594px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-16531"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-16531" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Nabi.jpg" alt="facts about Mohammad Nabi" width="594" height="396" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16531" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The right-handed batsman and off-spinner is the most popular player to have emerged from Afghanistan. He has been a key player for the Afghan team and has been influential in Afghanistan’s rapid rise through the ranks of international cricket. He has also captained his country in the past. In the 3rd edition of the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League, Nabi joined the Rangpur Riders and had a good tournament. In the same year, he played 8 T20Is and picked up 8 wickets and also scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 135.24 with the help of 8 sixes and an equal number of fours.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Mark Chapman (HK):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_41567" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-41567" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-41567"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-41567" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mark-Chapman-Hong-Kong.jpg" alt="Highest individual scores on ODI debut" width="640" height="425" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-41567" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: ICC)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The 21-year-old Hong Kong batsman scored a match-winning 124* from 116 balls on ODI debut against UAE in November 2015. The left-handed middle-order batsman also bowls slow left-arm spin. Chapman has played 19 List A matches scoring 725 runs at an impressive average of 51.78. He was the fifth highest run-scorer in 2015 in T20Is with 226 runs at a strike rate of 122.82. Chapman is qualified to play for New Zealand because his dad is from there. Charlie Burke, who has spent over a decade coaching in Western Australia, the East Asia Pacific region and Hong Kong, believes Chapman is destined to play Test cricket.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Kevin O&#8217;Brien (Ireland):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_51233" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-51233" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/01/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-51233"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-51233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ireland-cricketer-Kevin-OBrien-GettyImages.jpg" alt="Ireland cricketer Kevin O'Brien" width="640" height="401" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-51233" class="wp-caption-text">Ireland cricketer Kevin O&#8217;Brien. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Kevin O’Brien wrote his name into Irish cricketing lore and became a household name in India with that magical World Cup innings against England in Bangalore. By the end of 2014 he represented four English counties, and in T20 competitions in Bangladesh, the West Indies and New Zealand. As well as a belligerent batsman, O&#8217;Brien is also a canny medium-paced bowler, and he has developed his variations during his time in foreign T20 leagues. In 2015, he took 11 wickets from 8 T20Is at a stunning economy rate of 5.00. He got to play only 6 innings, mostly with little time to bat but still managed 109 runs. An IPL contract that has eluded his CV might just become a possibility in 2016.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Nikhil Dutta (Can):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_45314" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-45314" style="width: 627px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-45314"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-45314" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Nikhil-Dutta-Barisal-Bulls-BPL-2015.jpg" alt="Barisal Bulls" width="627" height="397" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-45314" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCB)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Dutta, who considers Sunil Narine a hero, has an action that is similar to the Trinidadian. Barisal Bulls picked him in the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League. In June last year, he went through Kevin Pietersen’s driving bat and pad, on his CPL debut for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He could play only three games but it was enough to attract the attention of those who are in the loop to connect such talent to the T20 leagues. He became the second Associate player to drop out of the qualifier ICC World T20 Qualifier having chosen the CPL. He has played 4 T20s and picked up 5 wickets with a best of 3/18. In 7 List A matches he has taken 8 wickets. He has played only one ODI for Canada and is yet to feature in a T20 international.</p>

5 players from Associate Members who might feature IPL 2016

Associate Members are countries where cricket is firmly established and organised but do not qualify for Full Membership. There are 38 Associate Members,IPL