T20 World Cup 2026: USA's Shayan Jahangir requests ICC for better funding and more exposure for Associate teams

"It's a request from us, personally from me, to really look into it, and if you really nurture us, I'm telling you, there's so much talent in Associate cricket," Shayan Jahangir said.

Published - 12 Feb 2026, 21:46 IST | Updated - 12 Feb 2026, 22:22 IST

2 Min Read

USA batter Shayan Jahangir has made a plea for more funding and exposure to Associate nations, on the eve of their must-win match against the Netherlands at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Jahangir rued that all "major teams" played against strong international opponents ahead of the T20 World Cup, but the USA had to prepare for the marquee event by facing Sri Lanka's A team. The Karachi-born asserted that investing in Associate cricket will not be a disappointment as the players possess a lot of talent.

"See, especially coming into this tournament, all major teams have played big T20 series. Pakistan played against Australia, New Zealand played against India, and we were playing against Sri Lanka A," Jahangir said at the press conference.

"It has a lot to do with the funding as well. We don't have the money to have those comps [competitions], don't have those big grounds that we can play on, and I think if we have that funding from the ICC... It's a request from us, personally from me, to really look into it, and if you really nurture us, I'm telling you, there's so much talent in Associate cricket," he added.

Jahangir cited the example of Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, who holds the record for the fastest half-century in T20I cricket - but has played just ten T20Is against Full Members since. The right-handed batter slammed a fifty off just nine balls against Mongolia at the 2023 Asian Games, breaking Yuvraj Singh's 16-year-old record for the fastest half-century. Airee also smashed six consecutive sixes in a T20I fixture against Qatar in April 2024.

"There are so many cricketers who are so good, but not given the exposure. I think there's this guy [Dipendra Singh Airee] from Nepal, he scored a nine-ball half-century. And if it was at the highest level, he would get recognition all over the world but he's still struggling to play league cricket all over the world. So I think exposure, funding and also a little push is required and hopefully we'll get it," Jahangir mentioned.

T20 World Cup 2026: Match 21, USA vs NED Match Prediction