'Find a way to continue to grow the game globally' - Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn bat for more opportunities for Associates

From Italy’s Mosca brothers dismantling Nepal to USA stunning India with early wickets, from Nepal pushing England until the final ball to Zimbabwe beating Australia, the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup delivered some of the most memorable moments through teams traditionally viewed as outsiders. Pakistan being pushed hard by the Netherlands further highlighted how established sides can no longer take such teams for granted.

The performances were not anomalies but evidence of a widening talent base that is beginning to challenge established teams. Yet, once the event concludes, many of these teams return to an unforgiving reality where opportunities dry up quickly. With the international calendar increasingly dominated by domestic T20 leagues, Associate nations often find themselves starved of elite fixtures, making sustained progress difficult.

The emergence of such leagues, however, has not come by chance. Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn believes exposure to high quality franchise environments has been a decisive factor in accelerating player development. He points to leagues such as the SA20 as environments where young players acquire habits that translate directly to international success.

“Back in the day, players would go to the IPL to find that kind of experience... at almost an international level,” Steyn observed as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“Now in South Africa, it's much the same. You're rubbing shoulders with the likes of Phil Salt, Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan... that wasn't happening before,” Steyn said.

According to Steyn, the franchise-based leagues provide what he describes as championship DNA, a culture of winning that has fuelled South Africa’s recent success, including their World Test Championship triumph in 2025 and their run to the T20 World Cup final in 2024.

“Championship teams produce championship cricketers. These guys are familiar with winning; they're used to the big moments,” Steyn said.

However, Steyn is quick to acknowledge that this pathway is far more accessible to players from Full Member nations than it is to those from emerging cricketing countries. For players from Nepal or Italy, breaking into these leagues remains a significant barrier.

Without the “money for cricket balls and facilities” that Steyn notes Associate teams desperately need, the gap between a standout World Cup performance and a sustainable international career remains substantial.

While Steyn views franchise leagues as the catalyst for growth, former Australia captain Aaron Finch offered a note of caution. For Finch, the international game must remain the sport’s central pillar rather than becoming collateral damage in the race for league dominance.

“International cricket still [is] the pinnacle for me. I understand how hard it is getting because of so many T20 leagues popping up and all competing for the same space. But we have to find a way to continue to grow that game globally... giving Associate nations more opportunity to play against Full Members on a more regular basis,” Finch said.

The 2026 World Cup has reinforced Finch’s argument. The talent among Associate nations is evident and the fear factor has diminished, but the structural support required to sustain that progress remains limited. As Steyn highlights, the challenge lies in balancing competing interests within an already congested calendar.

“Everybody wants a piece of cricket and the problem is that somebody is going to fall short. And most of the time it's the guys that need it most that fall short. And then when they come to these World Cups, then we can't stop waxing lyrical at how good they are. But then for the next two, three years. We don't see them anywhere,” Steyn said.